For the most part, the Yankees have been able to overcome their ineptness with RISP all season long. Today, it caught up with them as they allowed a team, that was utterly deflated after Saturday's tough loss, a second life. Coming into the game, they were 3-20 with RISP in the series and were 0-8 in Game 2. They followed up that with today's encore - an abysmal 0-8 to make it 3-28 in the series. The Yanks scored all 4 runs on solo HRs from Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, ARod and Jorge Posada.
It was the first career postseason loss for the Yanks when they had a 3-run lead. They led 3-0 when a solo shot by Yankee killer extraordinaire, Howie Kendrick, and a 2-run shot by the crippled Vlad Guerrero allowed the Angels to exhale. Kendrick struck again in the 7th when he ripped Joba Chamberlain's first pitch off the RF wall. Swisher didn't do Joba any favors, climbing the wall without actually making any attempt at catching the ball. What is this guy doing? I'd say there is no way in hell Joe Girardi can allow this guy and/or Melky to start again, but both lucky bastards get a reprieve because lefty Scott Kazmir starts tomorrow and Brett Gardner is a lefty.
As for Girardi, he got lucky in Game 2, and did a decent job, but he started to believe he had the Midas touch and got burned today. Once again, he was ripping through his bullpen as if there were a tree growing relievers in the pen. He used lefty Damaso Marte to get the final out in the 7th against Chone Figgins, yet brought in lefty Phil Coke to face left-handed Bobby Abreu to start the 8th. Abreu torched Coke for a double but was erased at 2B when he overran the bag. Why burn Coke there for 1 batter? So for 3 outs, Girardi already used 3 relievers.
In comes Phil Hughes. He was the "long man" out of the pen today, tossing 1.2 innings before he got smacked by a Jeff Mathis double to lead off the 10th. The same Jeff Mathis who is a backup catcher that hitIn came Mariano Rivera, to try the improbable. After botching an attempt to throw Mathis out at 3B, Mariano was able to induce a couple of ground ball outs to Tex to keep the Angels off the board. Mo pulled the Houdini when he retired Vlad the Impaler on a weak grounder to Cano.
Meanwhile, the Yanks couldn't muster anything offensively after Posada tied the score in the 8th. Only ARod reached base in the last 3 innings on an intentional walk. Things got weird in the 11th, as Girardi seemingly panicked after David Robertson retired sluggers Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales. For reasons that Girardi felt "were a better matchup," he pulled Robertson and inserted Alfredo Aceves. The same Aceves that was on a hook for a loss in Game 2 before ARod bailed him out.
In 7 pitches, Aceves and the Yanks lost 5-4 when Killer Kendrick singled and the amazing Mathis hit his 3rd double of the series to win the game. Did I mention Mathis is the Angels backup catcher that hit .211 this season? For his career, he's an even .200 hitter. Why would Girardi pull Robertson there? It makes no sense and reeks of overmanagement. If they get through the 11th inning, Girardi would still need someone to pitch the bottom of the 12th. He could have held Aceves in reserve in case Robertson got in trouble. Once again, Girardi emptied his bullpen with the exception of Chad Gaudin. This time, it bit him in the ass. Tomorrow, CC Sabathia goes on 3 days rest - won't Girardi need his bullpen once again? I fear the more the Angels see these same relievers again and again they'll begin to feel comfortable and start teeing off.
Yankees Postseason Record: 5-1
ALCS Series: Yanks Lead 2-1
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