With their backs against the wall, the New York Yankees needed to win in the Bronx to stay alive to defend their World Series title.
And did they.
In convincing fashion, the Yankees topped the Rangers 7–2 on Wednesday night, denting Texas’s series lead to 3–2.
Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, and Curtis Granderson all hit solo shots to back CC Sabathia, who bent but didn’t break, giving up only two runs in six innings, and striking out seven despite surrendering 11 hits.
“There was a determination,” manager Joe Girardi said of the Yankees efforts in the postgame press conference. “We have not played extremely well in this series, to say the least.”
Texas had won three in a row after losing Game 1 of the ALCS and had outscored the Yankees 25–5 in those three games, but Sabathia and the Yankee offense made sure the home crowd witnessed a Yankee victory to extend their season for at least one more game.
Sabathia was peppered with hits early, but settled down to limit Texas’s big bats. The middle of the Rangers order—Hamilton, Guerrero, and Cruz—went 2-for-8 against the big lefty, with only a single and a double. Cruz left the game in the fifth inning with an apparent hamstring injury.
“It’s a seven-game series,” Texas manager Ron Washington said after the game, after being asked if the loss was disappointing.
Even though Sabathia gave up 11 hits, 9 were singles. The only runs against Sabathia and the Yankees came off the bat of Texas catcher Matt Treanor, who had a solo home run in the fifth and an RBI groundout in the sixth.
The Yankees potent offense, having been limited to three runs or less the past three games, finally erupted, scoring six of their seven runs off Texas starter C.J. Wilson. Wilson pitched Game 1 of the ALCS against the Yankees in Arlington, giving up only three runs in seven innings, but wasn’t as fortunate on Wednesday, as he was charged with six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks in five innings pitched.
Game 6 will be on Friday and will pit the Yankees Phil Hughes against the Rangers Colby Lewis. The two hurlers faced off in Game 2, with Lewis and the Rangers coming out on top. Phil Hughes was rocked for seven runs in four innings pitched in a 7–2 New York loss.
If the Yankees want to repeat as ALCS Champs, they’ll need to reel off two straight wins at Rangers Ballpark, where they have largely faltered this season.
The Yankees have lost five of the seven games they’ve played in Arlington this year, including four of five during the regular season.
In addition, the Yankees will have to face Cliff Lee in a potential Game 7, so they certainly have their work cut out for them. Lee, who pitched eight shutout innings with 13 strikeouts against the Yankees on Monday, has had a stellar postseason so far, posting a 0.75 ERA in 24 innings with 34 strikeouts.
But winning Game 6, and solving Cliff Lee in Game 7 could make this ALCS the Yankees most memorable since 2003.
And did they.
In convincing fashion, the Yankees topped the Rangers 7–2 on Wednesday night, denting Texas’s series lead to 3–2.
Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, and Curtis Granderson all hit solo shots to back CC Sabathia, who bent but didn’t break, giving up only two runs in six innings, and striking out seven despite surrendering 11 hits.
“There was a determination,” manager Joe Girardi said of the Yankees efforts in the postgame press conference. “We have not played extremely well in this series, to say the least.”
Texas had won three in a row after losing Game 1 of the ALCS and had outscored the Yankees 25–5 in those three games, but Sabathia and the Yankee offense made sure the home crowd witnessed a Yankee victory to extend their season for at least one more game.
Sabathia was peppered with hits early, but settled down to limit Texas’s big bats. The middle of the Rangers order—Hamilton, Guerrero, and Cruz—went 2-for-8 against the big lefty, with only a single and a double. Cruz left the game in the fifth inning with an apparent hamstring injury.
“It’s a seven-game series,” Texas manager Ron Washington said after the game, after being asked if the loss was disappointing.
Even though Sabathia gave up 11 hits, 9 were singles. The only runs against Sabathia and the Yankees came off the bat of Texas catcher Matt Treanor, who had a solo home run in the fifth and an RBI groundout in the sixth.
The Yankees potent offense, having been limited to three runs or less the past three games, finally erupted, scoring six of their seven runs off Texas starter C.J. Wilson. Wilson pitched Game 1 of the ALCS against the Yankees in Arlington, giving up only three runs in seven innings, but wasn’t as fortunate on Wednesday, as he was charged with six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks in five innings pitched.
Game 6 will be on Friday and will pit the Yankees Phil Hughes against the Rangers Colby Lewis. The two hurlers faced off in Game 2, with Lewis and the Rangers coming out on top. Phil Hughes was rocked for seven runs in four innings pitched in a 7–2 New York loss.
If the Yankees want to repeat as ALCS Champs, they’ll need to reel off two straight wins at Rangers Ballpark, where they have largely faltered this season.
The Yankees have lost five of the seven games they’ve played in Arlington this year, including four of five during the regular season.
In addition, the Yankees will have to face Cliff Lee in a potential Game 7, so they certainly have their work cut out for them. Lee, who pitched eight shutout innings with 13 strikeouts against the Yankees on Monday, has had a stellar postseason so far, posting a 0.75 ERA in 24 innings with 34 strikeouts.
But winning Game 6, and solving Cliff Lee in Game 7 could make this ALCS the Yankees most memorable since 2003.
