There were about as many storylines in this game as there were half innings, and I'll try to get to as many as I can recall, but don't be surprised if I miss something. (As for the title, I had that idea when it was 5-3. If you're an SNL Celebrity Jeopardy fan, enjoy the chuckle.)
This is the first game in the series in which the Rangers did not score in the first, and the first time that the Yankees were the first to break the ice. But it wasn't without debate and controversy.
Robinson Cano's "homerun" was a catchable ball if the fan did not reach over the fence and hit Nelson Cruz's glove. The umpire chose not to call fan interference, saying that the ball was in the stands and out of reach, thus making it not reviewable for some stupid reason. If you're going to have reviews available for fan interference calls, don't limit it with loop holes.
Another thing that annoys me about that homerun was the fact that the fans are allowed to be that close to the action and have the ability to affect the game. This stadium is only two years old, and you would think that after what happened in the Yankees/Orioles series in the mid-90's with the Jeffrey Mayor homerun, MLB would have mandated that the Yankees build their outfield wall so that the fans could not reach that far over. Maybe put in a moat like we have in Arlington, where it's impossible to reach from the stands to the wall (isn't that right, Dad?).
So, I was irked by that call, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead over Tommy Hunter, then almost immediately Lance Berkman hits a shot down the line that closely missed the foul pole on the foul side, and the same umpire said that this ball was fair, making it 2-0. Thank goodness that this one was reviewed, eventually being overturned and called a foul ball, and Hunter escaped the inning only down 1-0.
In the top of the third, the Rangers manufactured two runs, antler style, and took the lead over the surprisingly effective AJ Burnett. I'm beginning to think that teams playing against us must be quite annoyed how we can turn the smallest stuff into runs. I know I used to be peaved when we'd give up those runs to teams like the Angels, A's, and Twins. It's a bit more fun to be on this side of the action.
However, after getting two outs in the bottom of the inning, Derek Jeter slammed a triple over Josh Hamilton's head, and then scored the tying run when Curtis Granderson put one just out of Ian Kinsler's reach. Granderson is quietly putting together some of the best ABs in the Yankee lineup this series.
Tommy Hunter ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth, and left with the sacks packed and one out in favor of Derek Holland, who was this game's MVP, in my opinion. He allowed one inherited runner to score when Brett Gardner hit one in the hole that Elvis snatched and made the smart move to get the force at third base. After that, despite a lead off double to Jeter in one inning and a couple of walks to Granderson, one that ended his night in the eighth, he was brilliant.
The Jeter double and the Granderson walk put two on in the fifth with nobody out, and Teixeira, Rodriguez, and Cano due up, with the Yankees already leading 3-2. Tex, who has been held hitless in the seires, chopped one to Young at third, who stepped on the bag to get the force, then threw across to attempt the double play but pulled Moreland off the base. On the play, Tex blew out his hamstring just before reaching first base, and had to be helped off of the field. It looks like his series, and season, are over. The Yankees will miss his presence in the order, but maybe more than that, his gold glove defense at first. Meanwhile, Holland escaped that inning with no runs scoring on a A-Rod 6-4-3 double play.
While he was on the mound, the Rangers were finally able to do some damage against AJ Burnett in the sixth. Big Bad Vlad, who showed some life in this game, led of with a single, then was erased on a fielder choice, putting Nellie at first with one out. When Kinsler hit a ball to deep center, Cruz broke out the antlers again and was able to tag and make it to second. That is quietly a big part of this game. With Cruz at second, first base was open for David Murphy, who had taken Burnett deep in a game in Texas this August. Joe Girardi decided to walk Murphy intentionally, which Burnett had some trouble doing, to pitch to Bengie Molina with two outs, but with not only the tying man on base, but now also the go-ahead man.
The target was on the outside corner, but Burnett missed way up and in, and Molina handled it just like the homerun he hit off of David Price in Game One of the LDS in Tampa. The shot put the Rangers ahead again, this time to stay, and ended what was almost a satisfying night for Burnett with feelings of disappointment.
The last big moment of the game took place in the bottom of the eighth. Holland, who had been in control since the fifth, walked Granderson to lead off, then was pulled in favor of Darren O'Day. Darren struck out Marcus Thames, who was batting in the spot once held down by Tex, then walked Rodriguez on a 3-2 pitch that looked like it should have been called strike three, but Molina was crossed up and dropped the ball, which led to the umpire giving the free pass.
O'Day out, Clay Rapada in to face Cano. Rapada wasn't real close and walked the third Yankee of the inning to load the bases with only one out, and the Rangers up by four runs.
Rapada out, Darren Oliver in to face Nick Swisher, who Oliver had walked twice already in this series. During the at bat, Swisher appeared to be hit around the shoetops by a slider he dove away from, but didn't sell it well to the umpire and he had to stay at the plate. He popped to center for the second out, then Lance Berkman hit a smash to Young, which he snagged, bobbled momentarily, and flipped to second for the force to end the frame. It was as if Michael said, "No sir, not again."
What looked like it could be a flashback to the nightmare eighth in Game One turned into a great bend but don't break moment for this bullpen to build on.
The Rangers capped it off in the ninth with Josh's second dinger of the game, followed by an upper tank shot by Cruz to put it away at 10-3.
So, where do we stand now? The Rangers lead the series 3-1. The Yankees will start their three best pitchers in the next three games, and we'll throw CJ, Colby, and Cliff at them, should it be necessary to go that far. Don't count the Yankees out, or be surprised if we see Lee again on Saturday night fighting for our place in the World Series. We're firmly in the driver's seat, but that was the case in the ALDS too, and we had to look to Lee to save our butts in that one.
Be excited. But don't be over confident. And whatever you do, don't be a jerk like Yankee fans are and talk trash about the other team. It's more fun that we are winning than that they are losing.
CC vs. CJ, part 2 on Wednesday at 3 PM on TBS. It sure would be nice to wrap it up without having to come back home, but CC is going to bring his best, and I guarantee a Mariano Rivera sighting.
It's late. That's all I've got. See you guys tomorrow.
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