Game Recap

Team Hoping History Is On Their Side Once Again

The Minnesota Twins begged the New York Yankees to win Game Two of their American League Division Series last night at Yankee Stadium, and the Yankees took them up on their offer.

The Yankees beat the Twins last night, 4-3 in 11 innings, on a walk-off home run by Mark Teixeira to give the Bronx Bombers a two-games-to-none advantage in their best-of-five series.

"Start spreading the newsss, Im leaving todayyy
I want to be a part of it—New york, New yorkkkk...

These vagabond shoessss, are longing to strayyyy
Right through the very heart of it—New york, New yorkkkk..." - Frank Sinatra

There is nothing quite like the sound of Mr. Sinatra. There is nothing in baseball quite like a walk-off win. There is nothing in baseball quite like the Yankees. There is nothing in baseball quite like the playoffs in New York.

It's a sight that we've seen oh so many times. One Yankee or another hitting a walk off homer in the playoffs. Then being bombarded by teammates, coaches, and media. It's a sight Yankee fans have longed for since 2003. The series against Boston which nobody will ever forget. Aaron Boone's homerun off Tim Wakefield sent to almost the same part of the yard as the one last night were the ghosts final appearance.

The early morning rain had faded, but a strong wind remained as I prepared to go to my first Phillies game since Jul. 9, 2008.

A veteran of Opening Day in Philadelphia, my good buddy was meeting me to go to see the opening round game of the Phillies vs. the Colorado Rockies today, Oct. 7 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

I arrived first and attended a pre-game rally, shown above. The Phillie Phanatic was on stage, as well as the band and several young ladies in Phillies gear. The Phanatic shot Phillies gear out of a long-nose funnel gun into the crowd.

Everything changed in the bottom of the third inning.

When Derek Jeter stepped to the plate with the Yankees trailing 2-0 to the Twins in Game One of the American League Division Series, a lot of questions were racing through the minds of Yankees fans.

Why has our opponent scored first for the ninth time in our last 12 playoff games? Why has Alex Rodriguez failed to pick up a hit in his last 18 postseason at-bats with runners in scoring position and past 28 with runners anywhere on base?

You have to hand it to the Yankees—they are exactly who we thought they were.

Brian Duensing didn't pitch poorly by any stretch of the imagination, but it is not difficult to surrender runs to this potent New York offense. Early on, Duensing was locked in, sprinkling his fastball in among his great breaking balls. He was getting ahead in the count and kept the ball on the ground, doing everything possible for his team.

After 162 games, it was only fitting that the 163rd needed extra innings to decide the AL Central champion. 

In a game full of bloopers, bombs, diving plays, headfirst slides and power strikeouts, it was a solid RBI single by Alexi Casilla that gave the Twins a 6-5 win and a date with October baseball.

What was supposed to be a swansong for the Metrodome turned into a classic back and forth contest where you never knew which team was going to win until the final pitch.

It took 163 games, extra innings and a win-or-go-home tiebreaker, but Joe Mauer and the Minnesota Twins can finally breathe easy—at least for one more day.

The Twins claimed the eighth and final playoff spot on Tuesday night, coming from behind twice to beat the Detroit Tigers 6-5.

Jason Kubel and Orlando Cabrera hit big home runs and Alexi Casilla drove home the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning on a base hit to right field.

In knocking off the Tigers, they stamped their ticket to the Bronx to set up a showdown with the Yankees in the ALDS on Wednesday.