YANKEES 4
ANGELS 3
13 Innings
ANGELS 3
13 Innings
This was as good as it gets.
It was a crucial game two in the American League Championship Series, and from the get-go, it was clear that neither team wanted to lose it.
Early on it appeared that the Yankees were ready to run away with this ball game. A 2-0 lead, and a dominating performance by A.J. Burnett through the game's first four innings, it appeared that the Angels would have no answer for the Yankees on a freezing night in the Bronx.
Then things changed.
After a Macier Izturis ground rule double to lead off the fifth inning, Erik Aybar singled to center to drive in Izturis to get Anaheim to within one, 2-1. From there Burnett lost control. He hit Chone Figgins in the foot to put him on, and walked Tori Hunter to load the bases for the always dangerous Vladimir Guerrero. Burnett delivered a wild pitch to Guerrero, allowing Aybar to score the tying run. Still with two running in scoring position, Guerrero failed to come through for Anaheim; he grounded out to end the
inning.
Failing to cash in, became common place in this ball game, especially by the Angels. In the seventh, the Angels had the bases loaded again for Guerrero, and the former All Star struck out swinging to end the threat.
This spoiled a great outing by Joe Saunders who went seven innings, and struck out five for the Angels. Saunders baffled the Yankees in an eight inning victory back in September, and once again had the Yankees guessing all night long.
Fast forward to the tenth, and the Angels once again made a critical error that almost cost them the game. With Melky Cabrera on first, Jorge Posada grounded right to second. Figgins flipped the ball to Izturis, who never touched the bag at second to start a double play. He hovered over the bag, but never put his foot on it for the put out. Cabrera was safe.
Darren Oliver walked Derek Jeter intentionally, and somehow got out of it, by forcing Mark Teixeria to ground out to end the inning, killing a potential Yankee comeback.
In the 11th, the Angels took the lead, when Figgins drove home Gary Matthews Jr., who was walked by Alfredo Aceves to start the inning, with a single to give the Angels a 3-2 lead. The Angels dugout exploded, and it appeared that Anaheim might flip this series totally on its head.
Then A-Rod showed up.
Rodriguez blasted an opposite field home run to right off of Angels closer Brian Fuentes to lead off the inning to tie the game at three. The Yankees were back in the game.
Later, in the bottom of the 12th, A-Rod had his chance to win the game. With the bases loaded, and two out, Rodriguez popped up to shallow center field to end the Yankee threat and force a 13th inning.
After the Angles were put away by David Robertson in the 13th, the Yankees took control for good.
Jerry Hairston Jr. whom the Yankees acquired for practically nothing on the July 31st trade deadline from the Cincinnati Reds, led off with a single, after spending over five hours on the bench. Two batters later, Melky Cabrera grounded right to Figgins, who decided to turn and throw to Izturis at second, but the throw sailed past Izturis, allowing Hairston Jr. to come around to score the game winning run.
Afterwards Hairston Jr. got a pie in the face from game two starter, A.J. Burnett. Box Score.
NOTES: This was the longest LCS game since the Game Five of the 1999 NLCS between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. That was the memorable "Grand Slam Single" game by Robin Ventura. That game ran five hours and 46 minutes; tonight's Yankee game ran five hours and 49 minutes.
The Yankees are the only team with a undefeated record in this year's postseason.
It was a crucial game two in the American League Championship Series, and from the get-go, it was clear that neither team wanted to lose it.
Early on it appeared that the Yankees were ready to run away with this ball game. A 2-0 lead, and a dominating performance by A.J. Burnett through the game's first four innings, it appeared that the Angels would have no answer for the Yankees on a freezing night in the Bronx.
Then things changed.
After a Macier Izturis ground rule double to lead off the fifth inning, Erik Aybar singled to center to drive in Izturis to get Anaheim to within one, 2-1. From there Burnett lost control. He hit Chone Figgins in the foot to put him on, and walked Tori Hunter to load the bases for the always dangerous Vladimir Guerrero. Burnett delivered a wild pitch to Guerrero, allowing Aybar to score the tying run. Still with two running in scoring position, Guerrero failed to come through for Anaheim; he grounded out to end the
inning.Failing to cash in, became common place in this ball game, especially by the Angels. In the seventh, the Angels had the bases loaded again for Guerrero, and the former All Star struck out swinging to end the threat.
This spoiled a great outing by Joe Saunders who went seven innings, and struck out five for the Angels. Saunders baffled the Yankees in an eight inning victory back in September, and once again had the Yankees guessing all night long.
Fast forward to the tenth, and the Angels once again made a critical error that almost cost them the game. With Melky Cabrera on first, Jorge Posada grounded right to second. Figgins flipped the ball to Izturis, who never touched the bag at second to start a double play. He hovered over the bag, but never put his foot on it for the put out. Cabrera was safe.
Darren Oliver walked Derek Jeter intentionally, and somehow got out of it, by forcing Mark Teixeria to ground out to end the inning, killing a potential Yankee comeback.
In the 11th, the Angels took the lead, when Figgins drove home Gary Matthews Jr., who was walked by Alfredo Aceves to start the inning, with a single to give the Angels a 3-2 lead. The Angels dugout exploded, and it appeared that Anaheim might flip this series totally on its head.
Then A-Rod showed up.
Rodriguez blasted an opposite field home run to right off of Angels closer Brian Fuentes to lead off the inning to tie the game at three. The Yankees were back in the game.
Later, in the bottom of the 12th, A-Rod had his chance to win the game. With the bases loaded, and two out, Rodriguez popped up to shallow center field to end the Yankee threat and force a 13th inning.
After the Angles were put away by David Robertson in the 13th, the Yankees took control for good.
Jerry Hairston Jr. whom the Yankees acquired for practically nothing on the July 31st trade deadline from the Cincinnati Reds, led off with a single, after spending over five hours on the bench. Two batters later, Melky Cabrera grounded right to Figgins, who decided to turn and throw to Izturis at second, but the throw sailed past Izturis, allowing Hairston Jr. to come around to score the game winning run.
Afterwards Hairston Jr. got a pie in the face from game two starter, A.J. Burnett. Box Score.
NOTES: This was the longest LCS game since the Game Five of the 1999 NLCS between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. That was the memorable "Grand Slam Single" game by Robin Ventura. That game ran five hours and 46 minutes; tonight's Yankee game ran five hours and 49 minutes.
The Yankees are the only team with a undefeated record in this year's postseason.
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