Zell's Pinstripe Blog

Yankees (5-0) vs. Angels (3-2)

Pitching Matchup:

LHP Andy Pettitte (1-0, 1.42) vs RHP Jered Weaver (1-0, 1.23)

Lineup

Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF

Game News & Notes (Courtesy of the LoHud Blog)

• Take a wild guess – it’s Southern California! Temps in the 70s, clear skies. It should be a beautiful day for baseball. The full forecast is here.
• The Yankees are two wins from the World Series and six from their 27th title after snatching a marathon Game 2 on Saturday night. They haven’t lost yet in the postseason, and the last team to win its first five postseason games was the 1999 Yankees – who, you may recall, won the World Series. The only AL team to win its first six playoff games is the 1970 Orioles (who also won the title).
• Here’s the Angels vs. Pettitte. And here’s the Yankees vs. Weaver.
• Andy Pettitte’s win over the Twins in the ALDS was his 15th career postseason victory, tying him for the top spot on the all-time list. A win today would move Pettitte past John Smoltz into sole possession of the record.
• The only Yankees who didn’t play in Game 2 were CC Sabathia, Pettitte, Francisco Cervelli and Chad Gaudin. The 21 players used set a new ALCS record in an extra-inning game, and the 38 combined players used by both teams also established a new ALCS high.
• Jerry Hairston received the walkoff pie for scoring the winning run in Game 2, and it was the 17th walkoff win for the Yankees this season (15 in the regular season, one in the ALDS and now one in the ALCS). One of the most important parts of all the walkoffs? The Yankees bullpen. Yankees relievers have allowed three earned runs in 17 2/3 innings pitched this postseason, and are 2-0 with two saves and 20 strikeouts. Without a lockdown pen, there’s no chance for the hitters to rally.
• The Angels are supposed to be the crisp and fundamentally-sound club but they’ve made four errors in the first two games of the series and are hitting just .154 as a team.
• Vladimir Guerrero often wears a Superman t-shirt when he’s lounging around the clubhouse but the Yankees (along with many other major league teams this year) have been his kryptonite: He struck out twice with the bases loaded in Game 2, and stranded eight runners. He has only two RBI this postseason.
• Derek Jeter’s third-inning home run in Game 2 was his 19th career postseason homer, moving him past Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle and into sole possession of third place on the all-time list. (Full disclosure: Jeter has played 127 playoff games. Jackson played 77. Mantle played 65.)

 The game is taking place at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The game will start at 4:13PM ET. The game is being televised on FOX. The game can also be heard on the radio on WCBS 880 & ESPN Radio. Enjoy the game. Go Yankees!

Come join us on the forum to take part in our Gameday chat

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Pettitte looking to build on ALDS start / Are these Yanks as good as ’98 team?

A-Rod following Jeter’s October lead / Hairston’s heroics lead Yanks to Game 2 win

Yanks make the right call by tabbing Sabathia for Game Four start

Past keeps Yankees from looking ahead / Welcome to Anaheim, Yankees

Game 3 Viewing Party Announced at Yankee Stadium / Yankee notes

Angels should try moving Vlad down / Despite workload, there’s Mo to come

Yankees are boosting city in a way that our politicians can’t

Anaheim and A-Rod: A match made in heaven / Factors Dictate Joba Needs To Stay in the Bullpen