Stars wins playoff games. Yeah, you can try and get by with a streak of luck led by average dudes on fire, but when it comes down to it, stars win you big games. That is exactly what Giancarlo Stanton did off the rip in the bottom of the first inning of a do-or-die ALDS Game 5 when given the opportunity to make Aaron Civale’s lack of control come back to bite him.
Knowing that Civale wouldn’t be in the game for a long time, it was crucial for the Yankees offense to show aggression and make manager Terry Francona regret his decision to go to his fourth starter instead of his ace, Shane Bieber, on short rest.