Girardi will 'never forget' what Yankees did for him after blunder
What a difference a few days have made for Joe Girardi.
The New York Yankees skipper left Cleveland last Friday in tears after failing to challenge a crucial hit-by-pitch call that led his team into an 0-2 series hole, and had a large portion of the fan base calling for his job.
Fast-forward to Wednesday. The Yankees were back in Cleveland and rallied around their manager to win a third straight elimination game and complete a remarkable comeback, advancing to the ALCS for the first time since 2012.
"For me, what these guys did for me, I'll never forget it," Girardi said postgame, according to Jack Curry of YES Network.
Girardi was very emotional in the days following his gaffe, saying he felt horrible for screwing up. Despite the humility, he was booed by the fans at Yankee Stadium when the series shifted back to the Bronx for Game 3.
While Girardi was reeling, he was reassured by his team, who backed him despite what transpired. After the series win Wednesday, Yankees third baseman Todd Frazier said the team made sure to pick Girardi up when he was down.
"This one's for Joe, I'll be honest with you," Frazier said, according to David Lennon of Newsday. "I told him, we got your back - 100 percent."