Yanks slam door on Angels, advance to World Series
NEW YORK – There was a prevailing thought that even after 103 victories during the regular season that the Yankees would find a way to let everything slip away against a team in which they were clearly the better team.
Old memories die hard, and with memories of 2004 fresh in the minds of every fan, the Yankees set out to squash any lingering doubt to that horrific collapse.
Mission (almost) accomplished.
In front of a raucous 50,173, the Yankees finally extinguished their old demons and advanced to their first World Series since 2003 with a 5-2 victory in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series to win the series 4-2 and sets up a showdown starting Wednesday night against the defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies.
Andy Pettitte, the all time leader in postseason victories was given the ball with the task of leading the Yankees to the Fall Classic. Manager Joe Girardi elected to continue to use him in Game 6 after the rain out on Saturday instead of using CC Sabathia, who had won Game 1 and 4 and completely shut down the Angels offense.
Pettitte held the Angels scoreless for the first two innings and the Yankees got five runners on base in the first two frames, but were unable to push across a run against starter Joe Saunders, who pitched seven strong innings in Game 2.
In the third, the Angels would get on the scoreboard when Bobby Abreu singled to right, scoring Jeff Mathis, who had doubled to start the inning as they took a 1-0 lead.
That lead would remain until the bottom of the fourth when the Yankees finally struck. Robinson Cano walked to start the inning and Nick Swisher, 3-for-35 coming in, singled to left to put the first two runners on. Melky Cabrera sacrificed both man over and Derek Jeter walked to load the bases.
In stepped Johnny Damon, who on a 2-1 pitch lined a single to left center that would score both Cano and Swisher to give the Yankees a 2-1 advantage. An infield single by Mark Teixeira loaded the bases again and Alex Rodriguez drew a bases loaded walk on a close pitch inside to score Jeter and make it 3-1.
That would be all for Saunders who struggled from the outset and was unable to remain stable on the tight rope he was walking throughout the game as Manager Mike Scioscia took the ball from as the season began to slip away.
In 3 2/3 innings, Saunders allowed three runs, seven hits and five walks in 83 pitches.
Pettitte now armed with the lead, set sail on trying to deliver the pennant. His only potential trouble came in the sixth when after getting the first two outs of the inning, he walked Torii Hunter and gave up a double to Vladimir Guerrero to put the tying runs on base. Pettitte would snare a sharp chop off the bat of Kendry Morales for the final out of the inning. He would work into the seventh inning, getting the first out before Girardi came to the mound to take him out of the game, leaving to a thunderous ovation from the fans.
In 6 1/3 innings, Pettitte gave up one run and seven hits, walking one and striking out six on 99 pitches.
Joba Chamberlain came in and got the final two outs of the inning and Girardi for the eighth, went to Mariano Rivera to pitch two innings and close the show. However, Rivera did not have his pinpoint control.
Chone Figgins lifted a bloop single to shallow left to begin the inning and after groundouts by Abreu and Hunter, Rivera gave up a run scoring single to right by Guerrero to make it 3-2.
In the bottom half, Cano once again started the inning with a walk. Swisher’s sacrifice back to Angels (now) reliever Scott Kazmir, was dropped by Howie Kendrick at first. Melky Cabrera would attempt to move the runners along with a bunt and when Kazmir fielded, his throw sailed over Kendrick’s head and trickled into foul territory, scoring Cano to give the Yankees a two-run advantage. Teixeira would make the lead 5-2 with a sacrifice to deep center.
With Rivera staked to a three-run lead, Rivera would make quick work of the Angels in the ninth. Kendrick would ground out to second. Rivera would fly out to right for the second out. Gary Matthews Jr. pinch hit and on a 2-2 pitch, struck out swinging to clinch the Yankees 40th American League pennant as the celebration began.
Sabathia was named the series MVP going 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA. Rodriguez continued his torrent postseason reach base all five times in the game and hit .429 in the series with three homeruns.
Wednesday, the Yankees will seek their 27th world championship when they meet the Phillies at Yankee Stadium.
NEW YORK – There was a prevailing thought that even after 103 victories during the regular season that the Yankees would find a way to let everything slip away against a team in which they were clearly the better team.
Old memories die hard, and with memories of 2004 fresh in the minds of every fan, the Yankees set out to squash any lingering doubt to that horrific collapse.
Mission (almost) accomplished.
In front of a raucous 50,173, the Yankees finally extinguished their old demons and advanced to their first World Series since 2003 with a 5-2 victory in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series to win the series 4-2 and sets up a showdown starting Wednesday night against the defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies.
Andy Pettitte, the all time leader in postseason victories was given the ball with the task of leading the Yankees to the Fall Classic. Manager Joe Girardi elected to continue to use him in Game 6 after the rain out on Saturday instead of using CC Sabathia, who had won Game 1 and 4 and completely shut down the Angels offense.
Pettitte held the Angels scoreless for the first two innings and the Yankees got five runners on base in the first two frames, but were unable to push across a run against starter Joe Saunders, who pitched seven strong innings in Game 2.
In the third, the Angels would get on the scoreboard when Bobby Abreu singled to right, scoring Jeff Mathis, who had doubled to start the inning as they took a 1-0 lead.
That lead would remain until the bottom of the fourth when the Yankees finally struck. Robinson Cano walked to start the inning and Nick Swisher, 3-for-35 coming in, singled to left to put the first two runners on. Melky Cabrera sacrificed both man over and Derek Jeter walked to load the bases.
In stepped Johnny Damon, who on a 2-1 pitch lined a single to left center that would score both Cano and Swisher to give the Yankees a 2-1 advantage. An infield single by Mark Teixeira loaded the bases again and Alex Rodriguez drew a bases loaded walk on a close pitch inside to score Jeter and make it 3-1.
That would be all for Saunders who struggled from the outset and was unable to remain stable on the tight rope he was walking throughout the game as Manager Mike Scioscia took the ball from as the season began to slip away.
In 3 2/3 innings, Saunders allowed three runs, seven hits and five walks in 83 pitches.
Pettitte now armed with the lead, set sail on trying to deliver the pennant. His only potential trouble came in the sixth when after getting the first two outs of the inning, he walked Torii Hunter and gave up a double to Vladimir Guerrero to put the tying runs on base. Pettitte would snare a sharp chop off the bat of Kendry Morales for the final out of the inning. He would work into the seventh inning, getting the first out before Girardi came to the mound to take him out of the game, leaving to a thunderous ovation from the fans.
In 6 1/3 innings, Pettitte gave up one run and seven hits, walking one and striking out six on 99 pitches.
Joba Chamberlain came in and got the final two outs of the inning and Girardi for the eighth, went to Mariano Rivera to pitch two innings and close the show. However, Rivera did not have his pinpoint control.
Chone Figgins lifted a bloop single to shallow left to begin the inning and after groundouts by Abreu and Hunter, Rivera gave up a run scoring single to right by Guerrero to make it 3-2.
In the bottom half, Cano once again started the inning with a walk. Swisher’s sacrifice back to Angels (now) reliever Scott Kazmir, was dropped by Howie Kendrick at first. Melky Cabrera would attempt to move the runners along with a bunt and when Kazmir fielded, his throw sailed over Kendrick’s head and trickled into foul territory, scoring Cano to give the Yankees a two-run advantage. Teixeira would make the lead 5-2 with a sacrifice to deep center.
With Rivera staked to a three-run lead, Rivera would make quick work of the Angels in the ninth. Kendrick would ground out to second. Rivera would fly out to right for the second out. Gary Matthews Jr. pinch hit and on a 2-2 pitch, struck out swinging to clinch the Yankees 40th American League pennant as the celebration began.
Sabathia was named the series MVP going 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA. Rodriguez continued his torrent postseason reach base all five times in the game and hit .429 in the series with three homeruns.
Wednesday, the Yankees will seek their 27th world championship when they meet the Phillies at Yankee Stadium.
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