Aroldis Chapman is redeemed

Aroldis Chapman had a chance to close out the Indians in this same stadium barely one year ago. He could not do it in Game 7 of the World Series, even though his Cubs went on to end their century-long championship drought.
But the $86 million closer was back in position to vanquish the Tribe again on Wednesday night, and the flame-throwing lefty recorded the final six outs of the Yankees’ 5-2 clinching victory in Game 5 of the AL division series.
“I was not thinking about last year at all. I was focused on the job at hand, which was to get the outs and get the save tonight,” Chapman said through his translator. “I imagined there was going to be a chance they would need me for two innings, and I prepared myself mentally and physically for that, for the job I had. I knew it was an important game and I was ready.”

Aroldis Chapman had a chance to close out the Indians in this same stadium barely one year ago. He could not do it in Game 7 of the World Series, even though his Cubs went on to end their century-long championship drought. But the $86 million closer was back in position to vanquish the Tribe again on Wednesday night, and the flame-throwing lefty recorded the final six outs of the Yankees’ 5-2 clinching victory in Game 5 of the AL division series.
“I was not thinking about last year at all. I was focused on the job at hand, which was to get the outs and get the save tonight,” Chapman said through his translator. “I imagined there was going to be a chance they would need me for two innings, and I prepared myself mentally and physically for that, for the job I had. I knew it was an important game and I was ready.”

Chapman, who returned to the Yankees last winter after a trade to the Cubs last summer, briefly relinquished the closer role this season. But he has regained it and thrived since the start of September, not allowing a run in his last 18.2 innings over 15 appearances, including four postseason games.

“Chappy wants to win. Chappy’s a winner and that’s why we went out and got him again, because we knew that he was really good at what he did,” Joe Girardi said. “He has obviously pitched in the World Series and loves the competition. His innings were great this whole series.”


Chapman, of course, had surrendered a game-tying home run to Cleveland’s Rajai Davis in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the Fall Classic last year.
He entered in the eighth inning again on Wednesday, nursing a 3-2 lead, before Brett Gardner’s RBI single and a throwing error by Cleveland right fielder Jay Bruce boosted his cushion to three runs for the ninth.
“Definitely a big hit there by Gardner,” Chapman said. “When you’re winning by one run, anything can happen. It gives you breathing room to work with, to score those runs there helps you relax and go out there and focus on your job.”