Update: Yankees win Game 1, 4-1; ALCS Game 1 NYY v Anaheim Angels Tonight…
By JE64413
Update: Newdsay ALCS Game 1 live blog:
NINTH INNING:
Top: Rivera begins the inning with an uncharacteristic walk to Torii Hunter, but retires the next three Angels to secure a 4-1 Game 1 victory.
Now, the big question: when will they play Game 2? Tomorrow night as originally scheduled? Or will rain force it to be played Sunday? Or Monday even? And how will that affect the Yankees’ momentum? Lots to discuss.
SIXTH INNING: Yankees 4, Angels 1.
Bottom: The Yankees score another run as the Twins, errrrr, I mean, the Angels commit two more errors. Wow, this is bad baseball.
What’s gotten into this Angels team? They were supposed to be a fundamentally sound club that constantly puts the pressure on opponents to make mistakes. And that’s obviously not what’s happening here.
After two quick outs, Melky Cabrera walked. Lackey threw away a pickoff attempt, allowing Cabrera to reach second. Then Jeter singled up the middle, and with Torii Hunter charging there definitely looked as if there was going to be a play at the plate.
But the ball riccocheted off Hunter’s glove, a shocking error considering he made a total of one – yes one error – in 252 games spanning the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
Crazy.
Top: Another 1-2-3 inning for Sabathia, whose pitch count now sits at 80.
But the inning had a bit of controversy, as Torii Hunter and first-base coach Alfredo Griffin were sure Mark Teixeira’s foot was off the bag on a play at first. Manager Mike Scioscia came out of the dugout to argue vehemently with first-base umpire Laz Diaz, with television close-ups clearly showing several expletives coming out of Scioscia’s mouth.
But television replays seemed to indicate Teixeira’s foot remained on the bag as he caught the ball, even if by only his pinky toe. So the thought here is the ump got the call right. Phil Cuzzi he’s not.
FIFTH INNING: Yankees 3, Angels 1.
Bottom: Interesting turn of events as the Yankees add a run, but could have had more.
With runners on first and second and one out, Hideki Matsui lines a double to leftfield. That scored Johnny Damon from second base easily, and third-base coach Rob Thomson put the stop sign for A-Rod, who was coming from first.
Yet A-Rod ran anyway. The relay from shortstop Erick Aybar beat A-Rod, and catcher Jeff Mathis made a great tag, coming back from the first-base side of home plate to block the plate just as A-Rod was readying for a collision.
It turned into more of a awkward tangle than a clear-cut collision, though A-Rod did look as if he limped away and Mathis’ head went right into A-Rod’s thigh. Home plate umpire Tim McClelland called him out, and Jorge Posada grounded to first to end the inning.
Yowsa! Come on Yankees! Mighty cold and wet in NYC, perfect Yankee weather 🙂
…if the weather is foul Friday when he arrives at the Stadium before his Game 1 start against the Angels, the big lefty (Sabathia) won’t fret. Rain may play havoc with the AL Championship Series schedule, but it’s not going to bug Sabathia. He will just do his thing “and wait until they tell me what time the game starts,” he said. “I’ll just come here prepared to pitch.”
The Angels, however, could be more bothersome. Sabathia does not have a great history against them – he is 5-7 with a 4.72 ERA in 14 starts, including an 0-2 mark with a 6.08 ERA this season. “They’ve gotten the best of me so far in my career,” Sabathia said.
Plus, some might say he has more to prove in October, despite his strong start in the division series opener against the Twins. Including that victory, he has a pedestrian 3-3 record and 6.54 ERA in the postseason.
Weather – and the challenges the Angels and their go-go running game pose Sabathia – were big topics at the Stadium Thursday as the Yankees prepared for the opener. They worked out briefly indoors and on the field in the rain. A few Angels played catch in the outfield, but most of the work they did was inside because the tarp was on the field by the time they arrived.
“This is Yankee weather,” Jorge Posada said. “We’ve been playing in this all year. It seems like every time we come home it’s raining. We deal with it and they have to deal with it, too.”
Sabathia is set to pitch regardless of the weather, Joe Girardi said, although the manager does not believe rain would affect the game. “I think we’re going to play,” he said. “From what I understand, it’s going to be chilly. I don’t think the rain is going to be a huge issue.”..
Moderate in the Middle 