10/08: ALDS Game 1: Yankees Take Opener vs. Twins
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees opened up their 2009 postseason run on the right foot, defeating the Twins 7–2 in the first postseason game ever at the new Yankee Stadium. The victory came exactly two years to the day after their last postseason win, which was on October 7, 2007 (recap) against the Cleveland Indians.
The game was scoreless until CC Sabathia ran into a little bit of trouble in the third. After back-to-back two out hits by Orlando Cabrera and Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer brought Cabrera in with a single to right. Sabathia then ran into a little misfortune, as Jorge Posada was unable to handle a high pitch from the big man, allowing Mauer to score as the ball bounced out of Posada's glove and got away. The Twins led 2–0 after two and a half.
The Yankees tied the game up in the bottom of the third after Derek Jeter followed up a Melky Cabrera infield single with a two-run homer to left. They would jump ahead in the fourth when Nick Swisher brought Robinson Cano home with an RBI double.
The game was somewhat blown open with a 3-run Yankee fifth inning. Alex Rodriguez brought in Derek Jeter from second with one out, grabbing his first hit with a runner on base in his last 30 postseason attempts. Hideki Matsui would make it 6–2 Yankees after he blasted a long home run over the center field wall.
Alex Rodriguez put the icing on the cake with an RBI single in the seventh, making it 7–2 Yankees which would prove to be the final score of the game. Despite all of A-Rod's postseason woes, Alex is actually 10-for-21 (.476) in his career against the Twins in the postseason, with all 21 of those AB's coming as a Yankee.
Overall, CC Sabathia's performance was respectable, as he allowed just two runs across and didn't walk anybody in 6 and 2/3 innings. He was lifted for Phil Hughes with two outs in the seventh, and he ended the inning by striking out Orlando Cabrera. Hughes, Phil Coke and Joba Chamberlain all combined for a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Mariano Rivera ended the game with a scoreless ninth.
The Yankees, as well as a very fatigued Twins team will get the night off but will be back in the Bronx for Game 2 on Friday. A.J. Burnett will get the call for the Yanks and he'll be facing the Twins' Nick Blackburn. The game will begin at 6:07 ET.
The game was scoreless until CC Sabathia ran into a little bit of trouble in the third. After back-to-back two out hits by Orlando Cabrera and Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer brought Cabrera in with a single to right. Sabathia then ran into a little misfortune, as Jorge Posada was unable to handle a high pitch from the big man, allowing Mauer to score as the ball bounced out of Posada's glove and got away. The Twins led 2–0 after two and a half.
The Yankees tied the game up in the bottom of the third after Derek Jeter followed up a Melky Cabrera infield single with a two-run homer to left. They would jump ahead in the fourth when Nick Swisher brought Robinson Cano home with an RBI double.
The game was somewhat blown open with a 3-run Yankee fifth inning. Alex Rodriguez brought in Derek Jeter from second with one out, grabbing his first hit with a runner on base in his last 30 postseason attempts. Hideki Matsui would make it 6–2 Yankees after he blasted a long home run over the center field wall.
Alex Rodriguez put the icing on the cake with an RBI single in the seventh, making it 7–2 Yankees which would prove to be the final score of the game. Despite all of A-Rod's postseason woes, Alex is actually 10-for-21 (.476) in his career against the Twins in the postseason, with all 21 of those AB's coming as a Yankee.
Overall, CC Sabathia's performance was respectable, as he allowed just two runs across and didn't walk anybody in 6 and 2/3 innings. He was lifted for Phil Hughes with two outs in the seventh, and he ended the inning by striking out Orlando Cabrera. Hughes, Phil Coke and Joba Chamberlain all combined for a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Mariano Rivera ended the game with a scoreless ninth.
The Yankees, as well as a very fatigued Twins team will get the night off but will be back in the Bronx for Game 2 on Friday. A.J. Burnett will get the call for the Yanks and he'll be facing the Twins' Nick Blackburn. The game will begin at 6:07 ET.
IRISH_E wrote: