Yanks back in fray, Giants on course
Source: Agencies |
October 22, 2010, Friday
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NICK Swisher and Robinson Cano hit consecutive homers and CC Sabathia made the lead stand up as the Yankees avoided elimination with a 7-2 win over the Rangers on Wednesday to close within 3-2 in the American League championship series.
In the National League championship series, Juan Uribe hit a game-ending sacrifice fly off reliever Roy Oswalt with one out in the ninth inning that lifted the San Francisco Giants over the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 for a 3-1 lead.
At New York, a late-arriving crowd for the late-afternoon game wondered whether this would be it for the defending World Series champs after Texas outscored them 25-5 while winning three in a row.
But Sabathia bounced back from an erratic opener, staying away from too much trouble against Josh Hamilton and Texas' big bats. Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz made an early exit with hamstring trouble, a day after Yankees star Mark Teixeira was lost for the postseason with a hamstring injury. Curtis Granderson added an eighth-inning homer for New York, his second RBI of the game.
"There was a determination," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We have not played extremely well in this series, to say the least."
Now the teams will go to Texas to decide the pennant in the best-of-seven series.
For Game 6 in Arlington, Phil Hughes will start for the Yankees against Colby Lewis in a rematch of Game 2, won by the Rangers 7-2.
"It's not disappointing," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "It's a seven-game series."
In the 50th anniversary of a club that has never reached the World Series, Texas remains one win away. To get past the Rangers, the Yankees will eventually have to solve postseason star Cliff Lee, who would start a Game 7 against Andy Pettitte.
New York is trying to overcome its first 3-1 postseason deficit 1958. Since the LCS went to a best-of-seven format, 24 of the 30 previous teams to take 3-1 series leads have won pennants.
The season is over for Teixeira. The All-Star first baseman was removed from the postseason roster and replaced by Eduardo Nunez, and Teixeira would not be eligible for the World Series. Lance Berkman took over at first base and had a scare when he slipped chasing Ian Kinsler's foul pop, causing his head and back to snap back. Berkman stayed in the game and later caught a foul popup for the final out.
At San Francisco, Uribe, a champion with the White Sox in 2005, made a great play with his glove then one swing that put the San Francisco Giants within one win of the World Series.
Aubrey Huff singled with one out in the ninth and took third when Buster Posey singled for his fourth hit of the game. Uribe hit a medium-deep fly, leaving left fielder Ben Francisco with no chance to get the sliding Huff.
"I got butterflies," winning pitcher Brian Wilson said. "I got anxiety. I got a mini-ulcer developing, but it's all worth it. We never lost focus."
Boosted by yet another big hit from Cody Ross and a timely double from Pablo Sandoval, the Giants pushed the two-time defending NL champion Phillies to the brink of elimination. Philadelphia will send Roy Halladay against Tim Lincecum in Game 5.
"We know what is at stake, but the game is the same. We have an opportunity to win a game tomorrow," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said.
In the National League championship series, Juan Uribe hit a game-ending sacrifice fly off reliever Roy Oswalt with one out in the ninth inning that lifted the San Francisco Giants over the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 for a 3-1 lead.
At New York, a late-arriving crowd for the late-afternoon game wondered whether this would be it for the defending World Series champs after Texas outscored them 25-5 while winning three in a row.
But Sabathia bounced back from an erratic opener, staying away from too much trouble against Josh Hamilton and Texas' big bats. Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz made an early exit with hamstring trouble, a day after Yankees star Mark Teixeira was lost for the postseason with a hamstring injury. Curtis Granderson added an eighth-inning homer for New York, his second RBI of the game.
"There was a determination," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We have not played extremely well in this series, to say the least."
Now the teams will go to Texas to decide the pennant in the best-of-seven series.
For Game 6 in Arlington, Phil Hughes will start for the Yankees against Colby Lewis in a rematch of Game 2, won by the Rangers 7-2.
"It's not disappointing," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "It's a seven-game series."
In the 50th anniversary of a club that has never reached the World Series, Texas remains one win away. To get past the Rangers, the Yankees will eventually have to solve postseason star Cliff Lee, who would start a Game 7 against Andy Pettitte.
New York is trying to overcome its first 3-1 postseason deficit 1958. Since the LCS went to a best-of-seven format, 24 of the 30 previous teams to take 3-1 series leads have won pennants.
The season is over for Teixeira. The All-Star first baseman was removed from the postseason roster and replaced by Eduardo Nunez, and Teixeira would not be eligible for the World Series. Lance Berkman took over at first base and had a scare when he slipped chasing Ian Kinsler's foul pop, causing his head and back to snap back. Berkman stayed in the game and later caught a foul popup for the final out.
At San Francisco, Uribe, a champion with the White Sox in 2005, made a great play with his glove then one swing that put the San Francisco Giants within one win of the World Series.
Aubrey Huff singled with one out in the ninth and took third when Buster Posey singled for his fourth hit of the game. Uribe hit a medium-deep fly, leaving left fielder Ben Francisco with no chance to get the sliding Huff.
"I got butterflies," winning pitcher Brian Wilson said. "I got anxiety. I got a mini-ulcer developing, but it's all worth it. We never lost focus."
Boosted by yet another big hit from Cody Ross and a timely double from Pablo Sandoval, the Giants pushed the two-time defending NL champion Phillies to the brink of elimination. Philadelphia will send Roy Halladay against Tim Lincecum in Game 5.
"We know what is at stake, but the game is the same. We have an opportunity to win a game tomorrow," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said.
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