The Yankees’ outfielder hit a solo home run off Justin Verlander in the second inning of Game 1 of the ALCS on Wednesday, his fourth of the 2022 postseason. Despite appearing in 10 postseason games as a Cardinal from 2019-21, Bader had never gone yard in the playoffs before this year.
As the moment gets bigger, so do Bader’s homers.
Wednesday’s solo shot came in a 2-2 count off Verlander, a favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award this year, and traveled a projected 411 feet to left-center field at Minute Maid Park to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead against Houston.
Bader, who hit five home runs in 86 games during the regular season, had never homered four or more times in a six-game span before. His four blasts in the postseason are the most ever in a player’s first six postseason games as a Yankee.
The Bronxville, N.Y., native was acquired in a Deadline trade with the Cardinals that sent lefty Jordan Montgomery to St. Louis.