After the first two games have come and gone, the Yanks and Rangers travel back to New York where the next three games will be played. If the Yanks defend their homefield, they could be punching their tickets to their second World Series in 2 years. However they will have to get past the old rival Cliff Lee tonight. New York will have some things to honor while they play out the rest of their playoff games. Classic superfan, Freddy "Sez" Schuman died at 85 yesterday of a heart attack. Freddy was a beloved war veteran who brought homeade signs with cute phrases about the Yanks, and the fans would bang on his shamrock frying pan for good luck. I've grown up banging on that frying pan, and the last time I got to hit some metal, was after game 6 of last year's World Series, the clincher. Freddy will be missed greatly from the fan prospective, and in a year where Bob Sheppard, George Steinbrenner, and Ralph Houk died, this just happens to be another great person in the Yankee culture to pass away.
The first two games were wild, the first one being much more so than the second. The number one thing game one showed me was that a Yankee rally can start at any point in the lineup, and in any inning. Why are the Yankees the best offensive team? Balance. When you got a thick middle of the order like they do, with guys like Posada, Granderson, and Gardner finishing it off, you're in good shape. Gardner turns the lineup over like a mofo, and in game one, he did just that. Sliding head first into first base on a tough chopper that he beat out and starting the 5-run outburst that would change the outcome of game one, making it a 6-5 victory.
Game two was brutal in many aspects, basically, game one without a comeback. The Yanks still put some men on, and Robbie struck some good swings on pitches, and the Rangers were shaking and sweating, however the Yanks lost 7-2. That's how you know the Rangers are still shook in some light. Although the Yanks missed a chance to go up 2-0 and put this Texas team on the ropes with Colby Lewis going for them, and Phil Hughes going for NY, they still have the homefield advantage for the rest of the series, and it just seemed like the Rangers did everything they possibly could to win that game, and they still felt like they weren't safe.
Now tonight will be the battle of a couple left-handed pitchers with pretty marquee names. Andy Pettitte for the Yanks and of course Uncle Cliff Lee for the Rangers. The Yanks have not had a great history against Cliff Lee, and Lee has had a great postseason career. At the same time, Pettitte is virtually unbeatable at home and in the playoffs, so something has to give here. Most people may think Pettitte, but he is a solid as a rock in this setting, this is what everybody will remember him doing when it is all said and done, he wins games just like these. Cliff Lee is due for a subpar outing, he is a human being right? First ALCS home game, Mr. Pettite on the hill, Lee due for a bad outing, and the Yanks won't lose two in a row. Yanks win tonight beyond everyones love for Cliff Lee, 4-2.
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