Yankees Twins ready to do battle in Game Two of the ALDS

By Gary W. Marchese Jr.

Minneapolis, MN (Oct 7) – The New York Yankees will be looking to take a commanding 2-0 lead in this series tonight. The game is a 6:07PM start and the two teams will have off tomorrow as they head to New York for Game three of the series Saturday night.

The Yankees would love to go back home with a 2-0 lead and finish it off either Saturday or Sunday night at Yankee Stadium. Andy Pettitte will take on ex Yankee Carl Pavano tonight. Here are the lineups, news and notes before tonight’s game.

Curtis Granderson had a big hit last night but Girardi planned to stick with him in center field throughout the playoffs regardless of his game last night. Girardi said you do not base it on one game, he has been good and good against lefties for a couple of months now. Girardi was asked about being in the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thome is not. He said there is something wrong with that, he has a little more power than I do. Girardi was a light hitting catcher who hit a handful of homers in his career and Thome is one of the best home run hitters of all-time.

Pitching coach Eiland said the reason Sabathia walked three batters in the sixth inning last night was that his shoulder was flying open. He said that would be corrected before his next start. As for the reason he was in there to face Valencia and walk in the tying run Eiland said, “He is our no 1 starter. You dig a hole for yourself, and we give you a chance to get out of it.”

To Sabathia’s credit, he struck out the last batter to strand the runners and keep the game tied. It could have been a lot worse but Sabathia did not let that happen. The Yankees bullpen got the last nine outs without allowing a run, it was not the easiest of outs but they got the job done.

The bullpen has been the Yankees strength this season at least in the second half and that continued. The main difference of course between them and other teams is Rivera who is such a weapon. Wood is also an eighth inning guy they got at the deadline and what a guy to have. He has been great since coming to the Yankees, he can still strikeout a lot of guys and has been in the postseason before so it doesn’t bother him.

Posted by gmarchesej on October 7, 2010. Filed under MLB News,News and Sports with Gary W. Marchese Jr.,Sports,US Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.