Mattie T’s ALDS Recap: New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on October 13, 2009
Game 1:
The Yankees erased an early two-run deficit & scored the game’s final seven runs en route to a 7-2 win over the Twins.
Derek Jeter & Hideki Matsui both helped lead the comeback, as the twosome hit a pair of 2-run homers to help the Yankees take the lead for good.
C.C. Sabathia provided a strong outing, as he went 6 2/3 innings & allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 8 hits while walking none & striking out eight.
It’s the first postseason start in 6 tries that Sabathia has finished a game without walking a single batter.
Game 2:
The Minnesota Twins were just 3 outs away from tying the series up at 1 game apiece until Alex Rodriguez decided to provide his biggest postseason hit to date.
Rodriguez hit a game-tying 2-run homer in the 9th off Twins closer Joe Nathan, which tied the game 3-3 & sent Yankee Stadium into a frenzy.
Mark Teixeira would one-up his teammate, as he hit a line-drive solo walkoff shot into the left field bleachers in the 11th to lift New York to a thrilling 4-3 victory.
Rodriguez also added a 6th inning RBI single, as he accounted for 3 of the Yankees’ 4 runs in Game 2.
Game 3:
An excellent pitching duel emerged for 5 & 1/2 innings, as Joe Mauer’s 6th inning RBI single gave Minnesota a 1-0 lead.
The Yankees would fight back in the 7th, as solo homers from Alex Rodriguez & Jorge Posada gave themselves a 2-1 lead.
Nick Punto gave the Twins a chance to tie in the 8th after hitting a lead-off double, but he overran 3rd base on Denard Span’s infield single & was gunned down by Alex Rodriguez.
New York then added key insurance runs in the 9th by RBI singles from Jorge Posada & Robinson Cano, which completed the 4-1 win & finished off the 3-game sweep.
Congratulations to Joe Girardi & the New York Yankees, who complete their first division series sweep since 1999 (3 games over Texas) & will head to their first American League Championship Series appearence since 2004.
As for Ron Gardenhire’s Minnesota Twins, they suffer their second Division Series sweep in the last 3 years & have not won a playoff game since 2004.
The Yankees will now meet up with the Angels in the American League Championship Series, as Game 1 will get underway Saturday at 11am CST from Yankee Stadium.
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