Gleyber Torres Drives in Five As Yankees Take Game 1 of ALCS

Giancarlo Stanton and Gio Urshela also homered as the team shut out the Astros

Gleyber Torres of the New York Yankees hits a two-RBI single against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in game one of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 12, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Gleyber Torres of the New York Yankees hits a two-RBI single against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in game one of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 12, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
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The New York Yankees beat the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS on Saturday night (Oct. 12), thanks largely to the efforts of Gleyber Torres, who drove in five of the Yankees’ seven runs and became just the third player 22 years old or younger to get five RBI in a postseason game.

Torres drove in his first run with a double in the fourth inning before knocking a solo homer off Zack Greinke in the sixth. He hit a two-run single in the seventh and finished off the game with an RBI groundout in the ninth. Giancarlo Stanton and Gio Urshela also homered during the 7-0 victory, while starter Masahiro Tanaka held the Astros to just one hit over six innings.

“It’s so great to play with the Yankees, and I get the opportunity to play every day,” Torres told reporters after the game. “For me, I’m just being focused. I just try to help and make some opportunities to try to help my team.”

Manager Aaron Boone praised Torres’ growth as a player. “He just plays the game with a free and easy way, and with a confidence about his game,” he said. “The intelligence part is big because it’s allowed him to continue to grow and get better at all of the little things. He comes into the game prepared. He likes playing in these situations, and he’s confident in his ability to produce. That leads to a dangerous player.”

Yankees lefty James Paxton will face Astros ace Justin Verlander in Game 2 of the series Sunday at 8 p.m.

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