Yankees Come Back After Losing Three Straight Games to Win, 7-2
It was a cool clear day at Yankee Stadium, and it seems as though the weather agreed with the New York Yankees’ playing as well, after winning Game 5 of the playoff series against the Texas Rangers, 7-2.
After being shut down by the Rangers by at least 5 points in their last three games, the Yankees came back to win one. Yankees’ coach Joe Girardi told the team to not worry, keep it simple, and just keep focused on winning the game at hand.
"That was huge," CC Sabathia said. "Just having us be able to relax and not panic."
Well, the Yankees sure were focused, with Sabathia’s champion pitching and early homers to put New York ahead early in the game.
Both Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher hit home runs, one after the other, and Sabathia’s pitching kept the Rangers from catching up to beat the Rangers Wednesday night, 7-2, to advance to Game 6 of the playoff series.
After being one game away from elimination, the Yankees pulled together to win the game, to close within 3-2 in the American League Championship Series.
"We're right where we need to be," Swisher said.
The crowd at Yankee Stadium wondered if this would be the end of the road for the defending World Series champions after the Rangers had outscored them, 25-5, in three consecutive games.
This difficult, yet very much possible, comeback kept them in the running for the World Series, and only if the Yankees win the next two games will they advance.
Whether New York wins or loses, there will be a Game 7, in which Texas’ ace, Cliff Lee, will be the starting pitcher.
"Who cares about Cliff going in Game 7?" Texas right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. "We've got a game to win in Game 6."
Still, with Lee’s 7-0 postseason performance, the Rangers have a better chance of going to the World Series than many expected, for the first time in 50 years, which is when the franchise was started.
Even second baseman Ian Kinsler thinks so, saying “We’re in a good position.”
The first inning of the game was uneventful, with only two hits by Texas.
The second inning had only one hit by Texas, while the Yankees took full advantage of the bottom of the 2nd.
With C.J. Wilson pitching for Texas, Alex Rodriguez walked. Marcus Thames then came to bat, popping out to second. Lance Berkman was up next, and also walked, advancing Rodriguez to second. After the next batter, Jorge Posada, hit a single to left field,
Rodriguez ran two bases to get a home run, and Berkman was safe at second base. Curtis Granderson then singled to the right, allowing Berkman to score and Posada to get to third. After a throwing error by Jeff Francoeur, Posada scored. At the end of the third,
the score was 3-0, to the Yankees.
With Texas’ no-score second inning, the Yankees really put on a show. Off the first pitch from Rangers’ pitcher, Wilson, Swisher hit a 357 foot home run, followed by Cano, who hit one for 373 feet, putting the Yankees even further ahead, 5-0.
In the top of the fifth, the Rangers finally woke up with a 366 foot homerun by Matt Treanor off of Sabathia.
The Yankees got back at the Rangers for making a run by adding another one for themselves in the bottom of the 5th. Berkman hit a sacrifice fly ball to center field to allow Swisher to score after walking to first.
Texas had their second run in the sixth. David Murphy started with a single to right field, followed by Kinsler, who singled to the right. Francoeur then singled to the right again. The bases were now loaded, although after Treanor grounded out to third,
only Murphy scored.
The next point in the game was by Granderson in the bottom of the 8th, hitting a 347 foot homerun to the right for the Yankees. The score was 7-2, with New York ahead of Texas.
The final score was 7-2, with the Yankees taking the win. Game 6 will take place on Friday October 22, 2010 at Rangers Ballpark in Texas, set to start at 8:07 PM ET. The weather calls for thunderstorms, but the Yankees and Rangers won’t let anything get
in the way of winning Game 6.
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