Yankees heartbroken after ‘brutal’ World Series loss

NEW YORK – The New York Yankees’ first trip to the World Series in 15 years ended in bitter disappointment Wednesday after the Los Angeles Dodgers gave them a five-run lead in Game Five before rallying to win 7-6 won.

The Yankees opened the series with three straight losses, but gave their fans a glimmer of hope with an inspired 11-4 Game Four triumph that had Dodgers manager Dave Rogers chewing through his bullpen.

Fans at Yankee Stadium radiated joy early in Game Five as the hosts took a five-point lead in the fifth as a once-improbable Game Six suddenly seemed within reach.

Then things started to go wrong, as Yankees ace Gerrit Cole’s defense unraveled around him and a series of errors allowed the Dodgers to tie the game.

The Yankees went back in front on Giancarlo Stanton’s sacrifice fly in the sixth, but that was negated by a pair of runs from their West Coast rivals in the eighth as the Bronx was forced to play host to the Dodgers’ festivities.

“This is obviously a very difficult moment for us,” manager Aaron Boone said. “This will stick forever.”

No team had ever recovered from an 0-3 deficit to win the World Series, but the loyal fans who packed their stadium never seemed to doubt their chances of adding to their 27 titles.

Boone himself is no stranger to postseason miracles as he hit the walk-off home run in Game Seven of the 2003 American League Championship Series that sent the Yankees to the World Series.

The Yankees went on to lose that series 4-2 to the Florida Marlins and Boone told reporters that this time as a manager he could easily feel his players’ pain.

“It doesn’t take away my pride in what that room means to me and what that group has forged this year and what we’ve been through to get here. But I’m heartbroken,” he said.

“The ending is cruel.” REUTERS