Yankees Close Out Series
There were the home runs by Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada. The heads-up defensive play by Derek Jeter. A lucky break here and there.
But in the backdrop was pitching, on top of pitching, followed by pitching, all wrapped with pitching.
And that’s why the Yankees have done in 2009 what they had not done in five long years, survived the first round of playoffs and advanced to the ALCS. They beat the Twins 4-1 Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep in the Division Series in the last baseball at the Metrodome.
Andy Pettitte pitched the first 6 1/3 innings to get his 15th postseason win, tying John Smoltz’s record, and Mariano Rivera applied the finishing touches as the Yankees held the Twins to six runs in the three games.
“You can talk about home runs all you want,” said Rodriguez, who hit a game-tying home run, his second of the series, off Carl Pavano in the seventh. “If you don’t pitch, and you don’t defend, you’re not going to win. The story of this series was CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte; they were all terrific. You get some big hits at the end, but it wouldn’t have been possible without their performances.”
The Yankees, after pouring still more champagne and beer all over each other, have four days to rest for the ALCS, where they will play the Angels. Game 1 is Friday at Yankee Stadium.
“It feels great, but I have to give the credit to everybody else,” said manager Joe Girardi, who won his first playoff series. “Our starting pitching was tremendous. That sets the tone.”
Click here to read the full article – By Dom Amore of Courant.com
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