DEUCES WILD
Yanks-Angels to break 2-2 deadlock today at Angel Stadium




By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 10, 2005

What started out looking like a repeat of the 2002 ALDS changed with the shake of a thermometer. Angels Game 4 starter Jarrod Washburn came down with an infected throat and very high fever. The Angels were suddenly in dire straits. They had already sent their Cy Young candidate pitcher, Bartolo Colon, back to Anaheim to get ready to start Game 5 if it was necessary. So they had to turn to their other horse John Lackey on short rest to start the game against the New York Yankees.

The Yankees who had gained home field advantage by splitting the first two games in Anaheim gave the advantage right back by dropping Game 3 to the Angels at Yankee Stadium losing 11-7. The culprit in that game was none other than the man they call the Big Unit. Randy Johnson, who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks, is being paid millions to be a stopper. Unfortunately, Johnson’s history in divisional series play isn’t very good. He entered the game Friday night with a 9-8 record and an ERA of 4.70. The Angels reminded the Unit of his dismal numbers by pounding him for five earned runs on 9 hits in 3 innings of work. Johnson worked into the 4th inning, but was pulled when he couldn’t record an out. The Yankees came back to take a slim 6-5 lead, but the relief corps couldn’t hold it and the Yankees were ravaged for 6 runs before Derek Jeter hit a non-factoring solo shot in the 8th inning to make the final score 11-7.

Saturday’s game was rained out, which only served to give the Angels pitching staff, most notably its relievers, a much needed day of rest. With the Yankees down 2-1 in the series things didn’t look rosy for the Boys from the Bronx. Jarrod Washburn compiled a 2-2 record against the Yankees this year with an ERA of 2.35. The Bombers were batting .255 as a team against him.

On the Yankees side of the ledger they had Shawn Chacon pitching the game for them. Chacon was obtained from the Colorado Rockies in mid-season where he had accumulated a record of 13-24 and a 5.27 ERA. When the Yankees got Chacon he was 1-7 and an ERA of 4.09. No one knew what to expect from him. However, Chacon has proven to be a godsend to a Yankees pitching staff that has been decimated by injuries. In 12 games started for New York Chacon is 7-3 with an ERA of 2.85. Opposing batters were only hitting .225 against him.

In his one appearance against the Angels this year Chacon started his first game as a Yankee, throwing six shutout innings against the Halos. Chacon received a no decision in that contest.

When news reached the Yankees that Washburn had been pulled and replaced by a short-rested John Lackey the Yankees had to be a little pleased they were going to face a guy coming in on 3 days rest. Lackey had been the Game 2 starter, but pitched only 5-2/3 innings. He gave up two runs while walking five and striking out three.

Both Lackey and Chacon started the game by throwing up zeros in the first five innings. Neither team could mount any offense. Finally in the top of the 6th inning the Angels got to Chacon for two runs on two hits to take a 2-0 lead. The Yankees cut the lead in half in the bottom of the frame when Gary Sheffield singled in Alex Rodriguez from second base. Angels manager Mike Scioscia retrieved his tired starter and brought in Scott Shields who induced Hideki Matsui to ground out to first base to end the inning.

Chacon started the 7th inning, but was replaced after giving up a one-out single to Bengie Molina. Joe Torre brought in lefty Al Leiter to face hardnosed Darrin Erstad. Leiter got Erstad to ground into a double play to end the inning.

With time running out on New York second baseman Robbie Cano got things started with an infield hit to the shortstop. Bernie Williams, who has had a miserable series with runners on, strode up to the plate to the chant of “Bernie Williams, Bernie Williams.” The Yankees fans were honoring a man who, for 15 years, wore the pinstripes with as much class and pride as any Yankee ever had. The fans wanted to see Williams do something positive, because they knew they may be seeing him for the last time playing at Yankee Stadium. Unfortunately, Bernie hit a ball to shallow center, which was caught by Steve Finley.

Now with one out Shields walked catcher Jorge Posada to give the Yankees runners at first and second. Ruben Sierra pinch hit for centerfielder Bubba Crosby and he tied the game at two with a single to right field scoring Cano from second. Posada moved to third on the play. Derek Jeter hit a ground ball to third baseman Chone Figgins and Posada ran toward home on the play. Figgins rushed his throw home causing Bengie Molina to corral the ball wide of the plate. He turned to tag Posada, but home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez ruled Posada crossed the plate before the tag. The Yankees led 3-2.

Scioscia replaced Shields with Kelvim Escobar and the Yankees managed to load the bases before Escobar struck out Jason Giambi and got Gary Sheffield to fly out to center.

Manager Joe Torre wasted no time. He brought in the Sandman.

Mariano Rivera arguably the best closer in history, certainly in post-season history, did what he does best. He shut the door on the Angels. Although the Angels have, as a team, the best numbers against Rivera in his career Mo was having none of it this night. He pitched two scoreless innings without surrendering a hit, a walk or a run. He struck out two, and got Super Angel Vladimir Guerrero to ground out to Robbie Cano to end the game.

The Yankees and Angels flew back to Orange County on late night flights to set up their Game 5 meeting at 5:00 p.m. ET today. It will be Mike Mussina versus Bartolo Colon. This is a rematch of Game 1, which was won by Mussina. The Yankees are hoping for a repeat of that outcome, but the Angels will be pulling out all the stops to win the game and the series in front of their crowd.

The winner will get to fly to Chicago after the Game to take on a well-rested White Sox team, which ousted the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox from the playoffs by sweeping them in three games. The loser will go home to ponder its future for the 2006 season.

It’s the Yankees versus Angels. It’s winner-take-all. Baseball doesn’t get any better than this.

PLAY BALL!



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