Virtual Baseball: Short Rest, Schmort Rest!—Yanks Hang On, Top Sox. Cole Goes All the Way in 4-3 Win!

Desperate enough to throw their ace on short rest, your New York virtual Yankees dodged another bullet tonight, hanging on to even the ALCS at three games apiece. 

 The Cole Train was running a little slow, as the Yanks No. 1 starter recorded only eight strikeouts, while surrendering nine hits and three walks. In the early innings, in particular, Cole barely evaded disaster, surrendering a home run to Jose Abreu, another run on an Anderson single. Only a dazzling catch by Aaron Judge of a ball Yoan Moncada drove over the right field wall, kept the Yankees from falling four runs behind. 

 But the Pinstripers rallied, on home runs by Judge and Gleyber Torres, and moved ahead in the seventh on a Higashioka single. 

Going into the ninth, Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman was warming up and soaking himself and all those around him with his usual effusion of assorted sweat, melting hand ice, mucus, and who knows what else. Taking one look at that hot mess, manager Ma Boone decided to stick with Cole even as he allowed the ChiSox to put runners on second and third with two out. 

 After Higgy made two blocks of near wild pitches, Cole fanned Nick Madrigal to end the game.

“Thuuuhhhh Yankees win! Thuuuuhhhhh Yankees win!” John Sterling intoned soberly.”But for how much longer?’ How much indeed?