Crazy Comeback

It was an ALCS game one comeback no one will soon forget. Never underestimate the New York Yankees. The Bombers clipped the Texas Rangers 6-5 in Arlington on Friday night in the opening game of the ALCS. New York trailed 5-1 through seven innings before rallying in the eighth to take a one run advantage and a 1-0 lead in the seven game series.
C.C. Sabathia struggled mightily pitching on eight days’ rest. Texas bashed the lefty around in the first innings for three runs on three hits. The Rangers batted around and would have extended their remarkable first frame had it not been for a terrific tag at the plate by Sabathia. After tossing a wild pitch, Sabathia made an athletic play to nail a sliding Nelson Cruz for the inning’s final out. Josh Hamilton pounded a three run homerun to give the home team a 3-0 advantage in the first. The Rangers added a pair of runs in the third to jump off to a 5-0 edge against the defending champions. Michael Young’s opposite field double was drilled to right-center to expand the Texas lead.
C.J. Wilson pitched a gem through the early innings for Texas. Wilson did not allow a run as the sluggish Yankee offense was turned away at the plate. The Texas hurler worked out of several jams and looked in good position to earn the post-season victory after cruising through seven. But the Bombers were determined to drive the ball and overcome Sabathia's bleak beginning. Sabathia was pulled after just four frames and 93 pitches. He was replaced by Joba Chamberlain. Chamberlain succeeded in preventing the game from getting any worse. Dustin Moseley was brought in during the sixth and seventh as the middle relievers combined for three scoreless innings.
New York finally put up a run in the top of the seventh. Second base All-Star, Robinson Cano, hammered a 1-1 offering to right for a homerun. In the eighth, things started to unravel for the Rangers as the Yankees sparked a come-from-behind rally in Texas. Wilson was knocked out of the game after allowing Derek Jeter’s run-scoring double. It was the third earned run by the Texas tosser, but the Rangers’ lead was still intact. Darren Oliver, former Yankee reliever, took over for Wilson. The southpaw slinger loaded the bases by walking the only two batters he faced before manager, Ron Washington, pulled him too. Side-arming right-hander, Darren O’Day, was summoned from the bullpen to face Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez ripped O’Day’s first pitch down the third base line for a two-run single. And just like that, the Rangers’ lead was narrowed to 5-4. Cano plated the tying run off Clay Rapada and ARod advanced to third on Hamilton’s error to set up the go-ahead tally. Rapada was replaced by young lefty, Derek Holland as Texas’ fifth pitcher of the frame. Holland failed to record an out before yielding a broken bat single by Marcus Thames that drove in Arod. Hollad retired the next three Yankees but the Bombers’ damage was already done. Cano led all hitters with three hits and two RBIs as New York spoiled Wilson’s seven serviceable innings.
Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera sealed the Yankee win with two scoreless innings. Wood worked around a leadoff walk in the eight and Rivera dusted off a base hit to strand the Texas base runners and earn the save. Mosley was credited with the win in front of the sellout crowd Friday. Moseley tossed two innings of middle relief and struck out four. Game two pits Colby Lewis against New York’s 18-game winner, Phil Hughes.

Parting Points: What a game last night. It reminded me a bit of the 2003 ALCS, but without the Aaron Boone walk off homer. This is why you never count out the Yanks, and why baseball is still the best game ever.

Buckeyes-Badgers today. Big road test for the Buckeyes.

Song of the day- “Love Song for No One” by John Mayer

“You wanted something beautiful…you wished for something true”- Foo Fighters