The 10 best New York Yankees playoff moments of the decade
By: Sam Marsdale
Tags: Baseball, Sports, MLB, New York Yankees

The 10 best New York Yankees playoff moments of the decade

During this time of nationwide quarantine, many have looked back on sports memories of their favorite teams. With no live sports on, it’s really one of the only options.

Major League Baseball and the New York Yankees were two weeks out from Opening Day when the league suspended Spring Training. No one really knows when things will get going again, despite the MLB talking about possibly playing out its season — or at least part of it — in Arizona.

It’s unclear how a lot of things would work out if MLB resumed play, so it looks like we are stuck watching a lot of highlights and looking back at years past for the time being. With that being said, we decided to take a look at the best 10 moments in Yankees postseason history since 2010.

10. Yankees stun Rangers in Texas: 2010 ALCS Game 1

This one is a blast from the past that is a bit of a wild card on this list. The Yankees were looking to defend their World Series title and were down 5–1 to the Rangers in the eighth inning of game one. They looked dead. Not so fast. Derek Jeter, Rodriguez and Robinson Cano each had hits that brought the Yankees to a tie at five all. Current hitting coach Marcus Thames then singled to put the Yankees ahead. Dustin Moseley was the Yankees’ winning pitcher. That’s a name only a true die-hard would remember.

9. David Robertson induces a huge double play: 2017 ALDS Game 5 vs. Indians

If Robertson does not induce this double play, there’s a decent chance the Yankees lose this game that gave them their first postseason series win since 2012. In relief of Sabathia and the Yankees leading by one with runners on first and third, D-Rob got Francisco Lindor to hit into a 6–6–3 double play to preserve the one-run lead. Lindor is a very tough runner to double-up, and Robertson was able to make it happen.

8. C.C. stifles the O’s: 2012 ALDS Game 5

On a Friday afternoon, the Yankees sent their ace to the mound with their season on the line. He did not disappoint. The big man tossed a complete game, allowing just one run as the Yankees claimed a 3–1 victory to advance to the ALCS. C.C. most notably got out of a bases-loaded one-out jam in the top of the eighth inning in this one. It’s arguably his best start in Pinstripes.

7. Masa’s Masterfulness: 2017 ALDS Game 3 vs. Indians and ALCS Game 5 vs. Astros

With the Yankees down two games to none in the ALDS against the Indians, Masahiro Tanaka turned in a masterful seven-inning scoreless performance. He replicated the same in the next series against the Astros with the series tied at two to give the Yankees a 3–2 lead heading back to Houston. He will always be remembered for these types of performances in the postseason, especially the ones he gave in those two starts.

6. Aaron Judge Wild Card Game home run: 2018 vs. Athletics

This was a game that Yankees fans were on the edge of their seat about, and for good reason. The pesky A’s were coming into Yankee Stadium, looking to ‘bullpen’ their way to a victory. Not so fast. Judge, the second batter of the game, launched a two-run home run to left that gave the Yankees a lead they never relinquished.

5. Didi takes Kluber deep twice: 2017 ALDS Game 5 vs. Indians

The Yankees hit Kluber well in game two of this series, but outside of Gregorius, they weren’t having much success in this one that decided the series. It didn’t matter. Gregorius took the Cy Young award winner out of the park for a solo shot in his first at-bat, and followed it up with a two-run dinger his next time at the plate. It propelled the Yankees to victory and their first ALCS appearance since 2012.

4. Greg Bird goes deep off Andrew Miller: 2017 ALDS Game 3 vs. Indians

While Greg Bird flamed out shortly after this happened, this is a moment Yankees fans will never forget. This was an absolute moon-shot off the former Yankee Miller — one of the best relievers in all of baseball. This turned the entire series around for the Yankees, who lost the first two games but went on to win the next three.

3. Raul Ibanez heroics: 2012 ALDS Game 3 vs. Orioles

Pinch-hitting for Alex Rodriguez in the top of the ninth inning, Ibanez tied the game off All-Star closer Jim Johnson with a solo home run. Stepping up in the 12th with the game tied against tricky left-handed reliever Brian Matuz, Ibanez obliterated a ball into the second deck. In a game where the offense of the Yankees was silent, Ibanez certainly wasn’t. It was the only year he played in the Bronx, but he sure made it a memorable one.

2. Didi Gregorius saves the day: 2017 Wild Card game vs. Twins

With Luis Severino faltering in the top of the first inning, Chad Green came in and struck out two batters with runners on second and third to limit the damage to three runs for the Twins. That cannot go unnoticed, as Yankees fans were trembling that the 85-win Twins could have easily rained on their parade. Gregorius then did his part for the offense, smoking a three-run shot off Ervin Santana to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. It is one of the most memorable home runs since the new stadium opened.

1. Yankees four-run rally: 2017 ALCS Game 4 vs. Astros

This was the most wild postseason game Yankee Stadium saw in the previous decade. They seemed dead in the water, ready to go down 3–1 to the Astros. Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez wouldn’t let that happen. Judge tied it with a clutch double, and Sanchez put the Yankees ahead as the Bronx Zoo went into a frenzy.