10/26: Bring on the Phils! Yanks Headed Back to the World Series
Posted by: Seamus
The Phillies' quest to any possible repeat will have to include a stop in the Bronx as the Yankees put away the Halos with a 5–2 victory at Yankee Stadium. The pennant is the Yanks' first since 2003 and their 40th overall, and the Yankees have now opened up each rendition of Yankee Stadium with a trip to the Series (1923, 1976, 2009).
The Yankees had an early scare, as an RBI single by Bobby Abreu in the 3rd put the Angels up 1–0. The Yankees would answer back an inning later, however, as Johnny Damon put the Yankees ahead with a two-run single in the bottom of the 4th. A walk to A-Rod with the bases loaded later in the inning made it 3–1 Yankees.
Andy Pettitte was clearly unaffected by Saturday's rainout, as he held the Angels to just a run on seven hits in 6 and 1/3 innings. Joba Chamberlain finished out the 7th in relief of Pettitte, and recorded two quick outs before Joe Girardi went to Mariano Rivera in the 8th for an attempt at a 6-out save.
Rivera was touched up a bit in the 8th, and the Angels pulled to within a run when Vladimir Guerrero brought home Chone Figgins from second with an RBI single. The Yankees would add some insurance in the bottom of the inning, though, as Scott Kazmir threw the ball over the head of Kendry Morales at first after a sacrifice bunt by Melky Cabrera, making it 4–2 Yankees. A sacrifice fly to deep center field by Mark Teixeira would make it 5–2.
Mo went back to work in the ninth, and this time didn't even give the Angels a chance to breathe. He put down the side in order, capping the pennant off by getting Gary Matthews Jr. to wiff at a 3-2 pitch on the high outside corner.
So the Yankees are now set up for a date with the Phillies in the World Series. For what it's worth, the Yanks went 1–2 against the Phils this year, losing two out of three in an interleague series at Yankee Stadium. The series will actually be the second Fall Classic between these two teams, as the Yankees swept the Phillies 4–0 in the 1950 World Series. The series will begin Wednesday with a battle of former Indians teammates, as CC Sabathia and the Yanks will be up against Cliff Lee and the Phillies.
The Yankees had an early scare, as an RBI single by Bobby Abreu in the 3rd put the Angels up 1–0. The Yankees would answer back an inning later, however, as Johnny Damon put the Yankees ahead with a two-run single in the bottom of the 4th. A walk to A-Rod with the bases loaded later in the inning made it 3–1 Yankees.
Andy Pettitte was clearly unaffected by Saturday's rainout, as he held the Angels to just a run on seven hits in 6 and 1/3 innings. Joba Chamberlain finished out the 7th in relief of Pettitte, and recorded two quick outs before Joe Girardi went to Mariano Rivera in the 8th for an attempt at a 6-out save.
Rivera was touched up a bit in the 8th, and the Angels pulled to within a run when Vladimir Guerrero brought home Chone Figgins from second with an RBI single. The Yankees would add some insurance in the bottom of the inning, though, as Scott Kazmir threw the ball over the head of Kendry Morales at first after a sacrifice bunt by Melky Cabrera, making it 4–2 Yankees. A sacrifice fly to deep center field by Mark Teixeira would make it 5–2.
Mo went back to work in the ninth, and this time didn't even give the Angels a chance to breathe. He put down the side in order, capping the pennant off by getting Gary Matthews Jr. to wiff at a 3-2 pitch on the high outside corner.
So the Yankees are now set up for a date with the Phillies in the World Series. For what it's worth, the Yanks went 1–2 against the Phils this year, losing two out of three in an interleague series at Yankee Stadium. The series will actually be the second Fall Classic between these two teams, as the Yankees swept the Phillies 4–0 in the 1950 World Series. The series will begin Wednesday with a battle of former Indians teammates, as CC Sabathia and the Yanks will be up against Cliff Lee and the Phillies.
