A couple of months ago, it didn't seem like the New York Yankees were going to play postseason baseball. Now, after trading for Anthony Rizzo, Andrew Heaney, and Joey Gallo, they're riding an 11-game winning streak.
The Yankees put an end to the Atlanta Braves' 9-game winning streak and with the Boston Red Sox struggling in the AL East, there's a big chance that the Bronx Bombers will be able to ride this momentum into the playoffs.
That's why coach Aaron Boone took some time to congratulate his boys, as the Yankees are the hottest team in baseball and now have their longest winning streak since the 1985 season.
Aaron Boone Lauds His Players Amid 11-Game Winning Streak
"We're in the grind, we're in the fight. It's been so much fun competing with these guys. watching these guys compete, watching these guys show up every single day, knowing there's a lot on the line," Boone said after the game.
Not everything was good, though. Aroldis Chapman nearly blows the save by filling up the bases at the bottom of the ninth. Then, Wandy Peralta went to war against Freddie Freeman in a nail-biting at-bat to secure the final out of the game:
“Just gutsy,” said Boone. “Freddie’s putting together a tremendous at-bat. [Peralta] keeps filling up the strike zone. Just a classic matchup there. … You know Freddie is going to control the zone, so if he’s out of the zone, it’s probably ball four. And [Peralta] just kept making pitches."
“I feel like our guys are very comfortable in these close games. Whether we pull it out, whether we lose one, whatever it may be -- I know we’re comfortable and we’re gonna play our game," Boone concluded.
The Yankees have only won 11 games in a row three times in the past 60 seasons, first in 1964 and then in 1985. Now, they'll face the tough Oakland Athletics for a chance to make franchise history.
