Cubs Stay Alive In NLCS As Javier Baez Socks A Pair; Gary Sanchez, Masahiro Tanaka Lead Yankees To 3-2 Edge In ALCS

Players of the Day for Wednesday, October 18, 2017

American League

Tanaka: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER

Masahiro Tanaka blanked Houston for seven full innings and catcher Gary Sanchez homered and singled in four at-bats, driving in two runs as the Yankees took a 3-2 lead in the ALCS with a 5-0 whitewash of the Astros in game five.

Sanchez: 2-4, 2 RBI

After keying Tuesday's thrilling 6-4 victory, Sanchez was again at the center of the action, singling in Chase Headley in the fifth and socking a solo homer in the seventh to complete the scoring for the Yanks.

After going 0-for-11 in the first three games of the series, Sanchez raised his game, going 3-for-7 with a home run and five RBI in the last two games.

Tanaka out-dueled Houston starter Dallas Keuchel, who defeated him in game one. Keuchel was touched-up for four runs on seven hits, lasting just 4 2/3 innings. Tanaka earned his second win in three post-season starts this year, fanning eight and walking one. His ERA over 20 innings is a sparkling 0.90.

Game six is back at Houston on Friday at 8:08 pm ET. The Yankees can advance to the World Series with a win, while Houston hopes to extend the series to a game seven.

National League

Baez: 2 HRs

The LA Dodgers took their first loss of the post-season, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Cubs at wrigley Field in game four of the NLCS.

The Cubs staved off elimination with a solid pitching performance from Jake Arrieta (6 2/3, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 9 K) and solo homers from Willson Contreras and Javier Baez, who stroked two for Chicago, one in the second and another in the fifth, which turned out to be the game-winner.

After going 0-for-20 in the post-season, Baez got off the slump with a pair of long balls.

The Cubs still have their backs to the wall in game five, Thursday at 8:08 pm ET in Chicago. The Dodgers need one more win to advance to the World Series.