Rangers stunned
Yanks overcome 5-0 deficit, beat Texas
ARLINGTON, Texas – The New York Yankees are already making it look like the 1990s all over again for Texas.
Alex Rodriguez scooted home soon after his two-run single that nearly was a double-play grounder, and the Yankees rallied for five runs in the eighth inning to beat the Rangers 6-5 Friday night in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
The Rangers still have never won a postseason game at home – even after building a 5-0 lead against CC Sabathia on Friday.
Robinson Cano hit a solo homer in the seventh to begin the Yankees’ comeback. Brett Gardner’s headfirst dive for an infield hit the next inning started a string of seven straight hitters reaching base against C.J. Wilson and four Rangers relievers.
“The first seven innings didn’t go too well for us,” Gardner said, adding of his slide into first, “Just trying to get something going.”
Texas had a runner picked off in the eighth, then threatened in the ninth against Mariano Rivera by putting a runner on second with one out. But Rivera struck out Michael Young and retired Josh Hamilton on a grounder.
New York has won 10 consecutive postseason games against the Rangers, who were knocked out of the playoffs by the Yankees in their only three previous appearances (1996, 1998 and 1999). Texas is 0-7 in home playoff games, five of the losses to New York.
“I don’t know if we gave it away. We just didn’t execute,” said Rangers manager Ron Washington. “It certainly was our ballgame.
“We needed six outs. We just didn’t get it.”
“I’m never surprised at what our guys do. Maybe thrilled, but never surprised,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “They stay on each other about grinding out at-bats. Chip away. There’s a talented group in there that plays with a lot of passion.”
Hamilton’s three-run homer in the first put Texas ahead, and only a fortunate bounce on what could’ve been a bases-loaded wild pitch later in the inning stopped the Rangers from getting more.
Wilson, the crafty lefty reliever-turned starter, blanked the Yankees through six innings. The home run by Cano started things going awfully wrong for Texas.
Gardner, the speedy ninth-place hitter, led off the eighth with an infield hit and Derek Jeter followed with an RBI double to chase Wilson.
Darren Oliver, the only player who had been in a playoff game with Texas before this season, came in with a 5-2 lead and walked the only two batters he faced.
Rodriguez, who had already struck out twice and made a fielding error to the delight of his former Texas fans, hit a hard grounder that hopped over Young’s glove at third base. The single came against submarining right-hander Darren O’Day, who faced only one batter and took the loss.
Cano followed his homer with an RBI single off lefty Clay Rapada, who didn’t face another batter. Marcus Thames followed with the single off Derek Holland that drove home Rodriguez.
Dustin Moseley, the second of four Yankees’ relievers, struck out four in two perfect innings and Rivera worked the ninth for his 42nd career postseason save, extending his major league record. He has allowed only one earned run over his last 21 postseason appearances (28 innings).