SAN DIEGO � By all accounts, the Yankees' pregame clubhouse vibe hadn't changed.
In the hours before a potential elimination game in the AL Division Series, the Yankees drew from their recent past postseason experiences and put forth a calm front.
"I feel like we play at our best when our backs are against the wall," DJ LeMahieu said Thursday afternoon. "And that's where we are right now."
By Thursday evening, the Yankees were planning for a winner-take-all Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
In his first postseason start, Jordan Montgomery worked four solid innings and a relay of Yankees relievers finished out a 5-1 win in Game 4 at neutral Petco Park.
Home runs by Luke Voit and Gleyber Torres provided the big offensive moments, setting up Friday night's Game 5.
And the Yankees will be giving the ball to ace Gerrit Cole, Monday's Game 1 winner, who'll be working on short rest for the first time in his MLB career.
