Seventh inning comeback goes in flames as Angels force Game 6
ANAHEIM – Had they won, it would have been remembered as one of the Yankees greatest playoff comebacks.
Instead, it is just a footnote.
Trailing by four runs in the top of the seventh inning, they rallied for six runs in the bottom half to take a 6-4 lead but saw their bullpen struggle in the bottom hl and send the series back to the Bronx for Game 6 as the Angels came back to win 7-6 in front of 45,113 at Angel Stadium .
All the Yankees needed were nine defensive outs to win their 40th American League pennant when it all crashed down in a flurry of Angel base runners and questionable managerial moves on both sides.
AJ Burnett, the man given the ball to pitch the Yankees into the World Series, put the Yankees in early hole before even recording an out. Chone Figgins started the bottom of the first with a walk and Bobby Abreu doubled. Torii Hunter followed with a two-run single to center and Vladimir Guerrero doubled to score Hunter. It became 4-0 when Kendry Morales singled to drive in Guerrero on Burnett’s 12th pitch of the game.
Burnett would get the next two outs to end the inning and the Angels gave a four run cushion to their starter, John Lackey.
Lackey had initial trouble in the first inning as well giving up back-to-back singles to Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon before retiring the side in order. After that, Lackey was nearly unhittable as he fooled with Yankee hitters, retiring the next nine in a row.
Lackey struck out seven through the first five innings and did not run into any more trouble after the first until the sixth inning. With two outs, Alex Rodriguez doubled and Hideki Matsui walked. However, Robinson Cano grounded out to end the threat.
In the seventh, the Yankees finally got to Lackey, Scioscia and the rest of the Angels.
Melky Cabrera started it with a one out double to right. Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter walked to load the bases. After Johnny Damon flew out to left, Scioscia came to the mound to remove his starter, a move that Lackey could not believe as cameras zoomed in hearing him say “Are you [kidding] me?”
Darren Oliver came in to turn Mark Teixeira around and have him bat right handed. On the first pitch, Teixeira would drill a double into the left center field gap to drive in three runs and cut the lead to 4-3.
Oliver would intentionally walk Rodriguez. Matsui would then tie the game with a single to center, scoring Teixeira. Kevin Jepsen came in relief and Cano would lace a double into right center, driving in two runs and giving the Yankees a 6-4 lead.
It was all there for the taking, as long as they could keep the lead for the next three innings. Burnett had settled down from a rough beginning to pitch five scoreless innings and have a pitch count of only 80. Girardi would allow him to start the inning, but after a single to Jeff Mathis (his third hit off him) and a walk to Erick Aybar, he was pulled for Damaso Marte.
Marte got the first out on a sacrifice bunt to Figgins, and the Angels trimmed the deficit to 6-5 on a run scoring ground out to first. With two outs, Phil Hughes came on to get the ball to the eighth with a lead. Hughes walked Hunter and with a 1-2 count, gave up a single to center that brought home to tie the score.
Losing control of the strike, Morales took advantage by swinging at a 3-1 pitch and singling to right, scoring Hunter and giving the Angels a 7-6 lead.
Game 3 starter Jered Weaver came in relief to pitch the eighth inning and held the Yankees scoreless. Mariano Rivera bailed out Joba Chamberlain by getting out of the eight after surrendering a leadoff double and infield single with one out to keep the deficit at one going into the ninth.
Brian Fuentes came in the ninth to close it out and got the first two outs when Damon lined out to Morales at first and Teixeira flied out to right.
Not wanting a replay of Game 2, Rodriguez was intentionally walked. Matsui was able to work a walk to move the runner up and Cano was hit in the back with a 1-0 curveball to load the bases. Nick Swisher, who is 3 for 35 this postseason, was the Yankees last hope.
He gave behind in the count 0-2 by fouling off two pitches at the plate. The count was worked to 3-2 and Fuentes was able to get Swisher to pop up to Aybar to end the game.
The Yankees now lead this series 3-2 and Game 6 is going to be played Saturday night at Yankee Stadium. Andy Pettitte starts against Joe Saunders.
Rain is in the forecast for the night that could postpone the game until Sunday.
ANAHEIM – Had they won, it would have been remembered as one of the Yankees greatest playoff comebacks.
Instead, it is just a footnote.
Trailing by four runs in the top of the seventh inning, they rallied for six runs in the bottom half to take a 6-4 lead but saw their bullpen struggle in the bottom hl and send the series back to the Bronx for Game 6 as the Angels came back to win 7-6 in front of 45,113 at Angel Stadium .
All the Yankees needed were nine defensive outs to win their 40th American League pennant when it all crashed down in a flurry of Angel base runners and questionable managerial moves on both sides.
AJ Burnett, the man given the ball to pitch the Yankees into the World Series, put the Yankees in early hole before even recording an out. Chone Figgins started the bottom of the first with a walk and Bobby Abreu doubled. Torii Hunter followed with a two-run single to center and Vladimir Guerrero doubled to score Hunter. It became 4-0 when Kendry Morales singled to drive in Guerrero on Burnett’s 12th pitch of the game.
Burnett would get the next two outs to end the inning and the Angels gave a four run cushion to their starter, John Lackey.
Lackey had initial trouble in the first inning as well giving up back-to-back singles to Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon before retiring the side in order. After that, Lackey was nearly unhittable as he fooled with Yankee hitters, retiring the next nine in a row.
Lackey struck out seven through the first five innings and did not run into any more trouble after the first until the sixth inning. With two outs, Alex Rodriguez doubled and Hideki Matsui walked. However, Robinson Cano grounded out to end the threat.
In the seventh, the Yankees finally got to Lackey, Scioscia and the rest of the Angels.
Melky Cabrera started it with a one out double to right. Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter walked to load the bases. After Johnny Damon flew out to left, Scioscia came to the mound to remove his starter, a move that Lackey could not believe as cameras zoomed in hearing him say “Are you [kidding] me?”
Darren Oliver came in to turn Mark Teixeira around and have him bat right handed. On the first pitch, Teixeira would drill a double into the left center field gap to drive in three runs and cut the lead to 4-3.
Oliver would intentionally walk Rodriguez. Matsui would then tie the game with a single to center, scoring Teixeira. Kevin Jepsen came in relief and Cano would lace a double into right center, driving in two runs and giving the Yankees a 6-4 lead.
It was all there for the taking, as long as they could keep the lead for the next three innings. Burnett had settled down from a rough beginning to pitch five scoreless innings and have a pitch count of only 80. Girardi would allow him to start the inning, but after a single to Jeff Mathis (his third hit off him) and a walk to Erick Aybar, he was pulled for Damaso Marte.
Marte got the first out on a sacrifice bunt to Figgins, and the Angels trimmed the deficit to 6-5 on a run scoring ground out to first. With two outs, Phil Hughes came on to get the ball to the eighth with a lead. Hughes walked Hunter and with a 1-2 count, gave up a single to center that brought home to tie the score.
Losing control of the strike, Morales took advantage by swinging at a 3-1 pitch and singling to right, scoring Hunter and giving the Angels a 7-6 lead.
Game 3 starter Jered Weaver came in relief to pitch the eighth inning and held the Yankees scoreless. Mariano Rivera bailed out Joba Chamberlain by getting out of the eight after surrendering a leadoff double and infield single with one out to keep the deficit at one going into the ninth.
Brian Fuentes came in the ninth to close it out and got the first two outs when Damon lined out to Morales at first and Teixeira flied out to right.
Not wanting a replay of Game 2, Rodriguez was intentionally walked. Matsui was able to work a walk to move the runner up and Cano was hit in the back with a 1-0 curveball to load the bases. Nick Swisher, who is 3 for 35 this postseason, was the Yankees last hope.
He gave behind in the count 0-2 by fouling off two pitches at the plate. The count was worked to 3-2 and Fuentes was able to get Swisher to pop up to Aybar to end the game.
The Yankees now lead this series 3-2 and Game 6 is going to be played Saturday night at Yankee Stadium. Andy Pettitte starts against Joe Saunders.
Rain is in the forecast for the night that could postpone the game until Sunday.
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