Attention Yankee fans, Mystique and Aura have reentered Yankee Stadium.
And now it’s a series again.
Yes, the Yankees were dead when “God Bless America” was sung during the seventh inning stretch. All life left the stadium when the Astros put a three-spot on the board in the sixth and added an insurance run in the seventh, putting the Bombers in a 4-0 hole.
But something happened in the bottom of the seventh. That old Yankee magic came back to lead the Bombers with six runs in the seventh and eighth innings, for the eventual 6-4 win in Game 4 of the ALCS.
“It was special again tonight,” said manager Joe Girardi. “Every home game has been special. I just feel like the fans are back. And I see things that I haven’t seen in a while and it reminds me a lot when I was playing here. So, it’s been fun to watch.”
These Yankees are a different animal. Unlike the Derek Jeter Yankees, which walked an arrogant chip on its shoulder or even the Animal House Yankees in 1977-78 with Reggie, Catfish, Sparky, Willie, Bucky, Mickey, and Munson, this team is not just good, but dare I say, lovable.
There’s a lot to like here on this club. Aaron Judge is not just a superstar, but a kid you can tell loves playing this game. Gary Sanchez is his counterpart and has taken to New York like a fish to water.
Then there’s Todd Frazier, a Yankee fan growing up and now their spokesman in the clubhouse. A free agent at the end of the season, you would think he has played here for six years rather than coming than coming to the Bronx on Jul. 18.
“Down four runs with nine outs to go,” Frazier said. “That’s Yankee baseball man.”
More importantly, it’s now a series. Now at a best of three, you have that belief the Yankees have a decent chance to win the World Series. Although everyone likes to talk about Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander, remember the Yankees are countering with their one-two punch of Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino.
And remember Games 1 and 2 were very tight and could have gone the Yankees way. But these last two nights are almost a statement of a Yankee manifest destiny.
Tomorrow around dinner time the Yankees will go at it again with the Game 1 rematch. Only this time it’s in the Bronx and the Astros have to face the wrath of the asylum on 161st Street.
“That ballpark is alive,” said Aaron Judge, who has a key homer and double tonight. “It was unbelievable. That stadium was rocking. The fans were going crazy. I didn’t know what to do after I touched home plate. I can’t describe it. That’s why we play this game, for a moment like that.”
It’s been eight years since the new Yankee Stadium had one of these moments and if it carries over to tomorrow and into the World Series, we may be talking about these lovable Yankees someday with Aaron, Gary, The Toddfather, CC, Masahiro, Didi, Bird and Sevy.
And of course, you can’t forget Mystique and Aura.
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