With clear skies in the forecast, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim try to force a seventh game in the American League Championship Series this evening when they once again try to stave off elimination against the New York Yankees, as the best- of-seven set shifts back to Yankee Stadium for Game 6.
This game was supposed to be played on Saturday, but heavy rain in the Bronx caused a postponement.
"This was the longest day ever," said Andy Pettitte. "It's just frustrating from the standpoint that it's such a long day when you're so ready and so anxious to get the game going."
Los Angeles stayed alive with a thrilling win on Thursday, as Kendry Morales' RBI single capped a three-run rally in the seventh inning, carrying the Angels to a 7-6 victory.
The win, though, didn't come without some trepidation, as southpaw closer Brian Fuentes intentionally walked Alex Rodriguez with two outs in the ninth then walked Hideki Matsui and hit Robinson Cano to load the bases. However, Nick Swisher, 3-for-28 with just one RBI and 10 strikeouts in the postseason coming into the at-bat, popped up to short on 3-2 pitch to end the game.
Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero and Morales all went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in for the Angels, who held a 4-0 lead going to the seventh, but then gave up six runs before rallying again.
"We are just going out there to play every game, one game at a time," said Hunter. "The pressure is not on us. We are still going to go out and grind."
Mark Teixeira had two hits, including a bases-loaded-clearing double in the big seventh for New York, which is trying to reach the World Series for an unprecedented 40th time in franchise history.
Since the ALCS became a best-of-seven series in 1985, seven teams have taken a 3-2 edge into Game 6 with the home-field advantage. Three of those teams won Game 6 to advance to the World Series, two lost Game 6 but then won Game 7, and two teams lost both Games 6 and 7 at home.
"Well, I feel good about our team," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "We're up three games to two. We're in our home ballpark, where we've played very well. I'm sure the Angels feel very good about their chances, you know, after the last game, but you win 103 games during the regular season and have a great home-field record, you're going to feel great when you come home."
Of course, the Yankees were in a similar position in 2004 and lost both games at home to the Boston Red Sox, who became the first team in major league history to overcome a 3-0 deficit.
Melky Cabrera added two hits in Thursday's loss and Robinson Cano had two RBI in the loss for New York, whose normally reliable bullpen imploded in the seventh.
After the Yankees had seemingly seized control of the contest in top half of the seventh, the Angels scored three times in their turn to re-claim control. Jeff Mathis laced his third hit of the night and Erick Aybar walked to set the table for Chone Figgins, who moved both runners up one base on a sacrifice bunt off Damaso Marte.
Bobby Abreu's slow chopper to first plated one run, ending Marte's night in favor of Phil Hughes (0-1). The right-hander then walked Hunter and allowed Guerrero's single to center to score the tying run.
"He is still making pitches. He got to the counts that he wanted to, but he got to Vlad Guerrero and missed his spot," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said about Hughes.
Morales followed with a hot shot to right, plating Hunter for a 7-6 game.
Source miamiherald.com/
This game was supposed to be played on Saturday, but heavy rain in the Bronx caused a postponement.
"This was the longest day ever," said Andy Pettitte. "It's just frustrating from the standpoint that it's such a long day when you're so ready and so anxious to get the game going."
Los Angeles stayed alive with a thrilling win on Thursday, as Kendry Morales' RBI single capped a three-run rally in the seventh inning, carrying the Angels to a 7-6 victory.
The win, though, didn't come without some trepidation, as southpaw closer Brian Fuentes intentionally walked Alex Rodriguez with two outs in the ninth then walked Hideki Matsui and hit Robinson Cano to load the bases. However, Nick Swisher, 3-for-28 with just one RBI and 10 strikeouts in the postseason coming into the at-bat, popped up to short on 3-2 pitch to end the game.
Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero and Morales all went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in for the Angels, who held a 4-0 lead going to the seventh, but then gave up six runs before rallying again.
"We are just going out there to play every game, one game at a time," said Hunter. "The pressure is not on us. We are still going to go out and grind."
Mark Teixeira had two hits, including a bases-loaded-clearing double in the big seventh for New York, which is trying to reach the World Series for an unprecedented 40th time in franchise history.
Since the ALCS became a best-of-seven series in 1985, seven teams have taken a 3-2 edge into Game 6 with the home-field advantage. Three of those teams won Game 6 to advance to the World Series, two lost Game 6 but then won Game 7, and two teams lost both Games 6 and 7 at home.
"Well, I feel good about our team," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "We're up three games to two. We're in our home ballpark, where we've played very well. I'm sure the Angels feel very good about their chances, you know, after the last game, but you win 103 games during the regular season and have a great home-field record, you're going to feel great when you come home."
Of course, the Yankees were in a similar position in 2004 and lost both games at home to the Boston Red Sox, who became the first team in major league history to overcome a 3-0 deficit.
Melky Cabrera added two hits in Thursday's loss and Robinson Cano had two RBI in the loss for New York, whose normally reliable bullpen imploded in the seventh.
After the Yankees had seemingly seized control of the contest in top half of the seventh, the Angels scored three times in their turn to re-claim control. Jeff Mathis laced his third hit of the night and Erick Aybar walked to set the table for Chone Figgins, who moved both runners up one base on a sacrifice bunt off Damaso Marte.
Bobby Abreu's slow chopper to first plated one run, ending Marte's night in favor of Phil Hughes (0-1). The right-hander then walked Hunter and allowed Guerrero's single to center to score the tying run.
"He is still making pitches. He got to the counts that he wanted to, but he got to Vlad Guerrero and missed his spot," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said about Hughes.
Morales followed with a hot shot to right, plating Hunter for a 7-6 game.
Source miamiherald.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment