Game summaries
Game 1
The Yankees quickly fell behind as the Rangers got to their ace, CC Sabathia. In the first inning Josh Hamilton cracked a three-run home run to put Texas out in front. Michael Young added two more runs in the fourth with a double. Rangers starter C. J. Wilson had gone for seven strong innings, allowing only a single earned run, a solo homer by Robinson Canó.
In the eighth inning, New York left fielder Brett Gardner reached base on an infield single to lead off the top of the inning and scored on a double by Derek Jeter. Darren Oliver relieved Wilson and allowed back-to-back walks to Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira to load the bases with nobody out for Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez hit a two-RBI single, reducing the deficit to 5–4. Robinson Canó tied the game with a single and Marcus Thames followed with a single of his own to give the Yankees a 6–5 lead.
That lead would be enough, as Kerry Wood shut down the Rangers in the eighth and in the ninth Mariano Rivera secured his 42nd postseason save, his final postseason save of his career.
Game 2
Once again the Yankees starter, this time Phil Hughes, lasted only four innings. The Rangers' Elvis Andrus scored on a double steal in the bottom of the first inning. David Murphy's solo home run in the second and three straight two-out hits by Mitch Moreland, Elvis Andrus, and Michael Young made the score 3–0.
Nelson Cruz hit a lead-off double off the right field wall in the bottom of the third and advanced to third base on Ian Kinsler's sacrifice bunt. Murphy and Bengie Molina's consecutive doubles increased the lead to five.
Robinson Canó answered with a lead-off double off the center field wall in the top of the fourth. Canó advanced to third on a wild pitch. Colby Lewis struck out Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada, but surrendered an RBI single to Lance Berkman. Berkman's hard hit just passed first baseman Moreland's glove but Moreland recovered the ball and caught Berkman between first and second base.
Cruz hit another lead-off double in the bottom of the fifth and scored on Kinsler's RBI triple. Hughes was then relieved by Joba Chamberlain. Chamberlain struck out Murphy and Molina, but surrendered an RBI single to Moreland.
Canó hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning, but, despite having runners in scoring position the next three innings, the Yankees never scored again.
This was the Rangers' first postseason home game win, and it also snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Yankees in postseason dating back to Game 2 of the 1996 ALDS.
Game 3
Rangers ace Cliff Lee continued his postseason dominance as he pitched eight scoreless innings on 122 pitches, striking out 13 while allowing only two hits and one walk. Josh Hamilton's two-run homer in the top of the first inning gave the Rangers an early lead which they never relinquished. After the Hamilton home run, Yankees starter Andy Pettitte threw 6+2⁄3 scoreless innings, while reliever Kerry Wood pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Rangers padded their lead in the top of the ninth inning. Hamilton hit a leadoff double off of Boone Logan, who was relieved by David Robertson. Back-to-back singles by Vladimir Guerrero and Nelson Cruz made it 3–0 Rangers. Robertson struck out Ian Kinsler on a wild pitch that let Cruz go to second. After David Murphy was intentionally walked, Bengie Molina's single scored a run, then Mitch Moreland's single scored two more, and Elvis Andrus's double made it 7–0 Rangers. Sergio Mitre relieved Robertson and threw a wild pitch that scored the last run of the inning. Rangers closer Neftalí Feliz, entering the game in a non-save situation, pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth inning to preserve the shutout. [9]
The Yankees' offense was just 1-for-14 with RISP over the last two games. Derek Jeter's postseason streak of getting on base in 21 consecutive games was stopped, as he went 0-for-4 and was not walked. His first at-bat was a pop-fly; the second, third, and fourth at-bats were strike-outs. Lee's shutout was the first time that the Yankees had failed to score a run in a post-season game since being shut out by the Detroit Tigers on October 6, 2006. Lee became the first pitcher to strike out at least 10 in three consecutive playoff appearances, and took his postseason tally to 7–0.
Game 4
The Yankees jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the second on a controversial solo home run from Robinson Canó. Canó hit the ball over the right field wall and right-field umpire Jim Reynolds ruled the ball a home run, but Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz argued that there was spectator interference. Television replays showed that the fans did not illegally interfere with the ball directly, but that a few fans did touch Cruz's glove while it was over the field of play. Instant replay review was not used and the home run call stood. [10] Two batters later, Lance Berkman hit the ball deep to right field and was initially ruled a home run by Reynolds, but the umpires elected to use instant replay review and overturned the call to a foul ball; Berkman eventually struck out looking.
The Rangers took the lead in the top of the third. David Murphy led off the inning with a walk and Bengie Molina was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt by Mitch Moreland followed by an RBI grounder from Elvis Andrus scored Murphy from third. Michael Young followed Andrus with an infield hit that drove in Molina.
In the bottom half of the third, Derek Jeter tripled and scored on a Curtis Granderson RBI single to tie the game at 2–2.
In the bottom of the fourth inning Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, and Canó and Berkman each singled to load the bases. Nick Swisher struck out, and Rangers starting pitcher Tommy Hunter was replaced by Derek Holland. Brett Gardner hit a hard RBI grounder to shortstop Elvis Andrus, who forced Canó out at third but allowed Rodriguez to score, giving the Yankees a one-run lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, Vladimir Guerrero singled, but was forced out at second on a Cruz grounder that resulted in Cruz safely reaching first. Cruz then tagged up to second on Ian Kinsler's fly out. David Murphy was then intentionally walked to get to Bengie Molina. On the first pitch of the at bat, Molina hit a three-run home run to left field, giving the Rangers a 5–3 lead.
The Rangers piled onto their lead in the top of the seventh as Josh Hamilton hit a solo home run against Boone Logan. Guerrero then doubled, Cruz walked, and Kinsler hit a bloop single to right field to extend the lead to 7–3.
In the bottom of the eighth, Holland walked Granderson and was replaced with Darren O'Day. O'Day then walked Rodriguez and was replaced by Clay Rapada, who promptly walked Canó. Finally, Darren Oliver came in and got Swisher to pop up and Berkman to ground out.
In the top of the ninth, Hamilton hit another solo home run off Yankees reliever Sergio Mitre which tied the ALCS home run records. Guerrero followed up with an infield single. Cruz then homered to left to make the score 10–3.
In the bottom of the ninth, Gardner singled to lead off and took second base on defensive indifference. Posada grounded out allowing Gardner to advance to third base, but Jeter flew out and Granderson lined out to Moreland, stranding Gardner at third base and ending the game.
The Canó home run has been compared to the Jeffrey Maier play, according to many analysts. When asked about the Canó controversy, Maier replied, "it was pretty funny." [11]
Game 5
The Yankees struck in the bottom of the second as Alex Rodriguez walked. Marcus Thames popped out, then Lance Berkman walked. Jorge Posada then hit a RBI single for the first run of the game. Curtis Granderson followed with a single of his own, driving in another. Jeff Francoeur's error scored another, making the score 3–0.
The Yankees got two more runs as Nick Swisher and Robinson Canó hit back-to-back solo homers, extending the lead to five. Canó's homer was his fourth in the series. The homer also tied the ALCS home run records.
Sabathia gave up his first run in the top of the fifth as Matt Treanor homered. The Yankees responded in the bottom of the inning as Swisher walked and Canó lined out. Rodriguez then hit a double, followed by Berkman's sacrifice fly that scored Swisher.
In the top of the sixth, Vladimir Guerrero struck out. David Murphy, Ian Kinsler, and Francoeur hit consecutive singles. Treanor's grounder to third brought in the Rangers' second run, but Sabathia struck out Moreland to end the inning with runners on second and third. Curtis Granderson homered in the eighth to return the Yankees' lead to five.
Although Sabathia allowed a season-high 11 hits, he gave the Yankees six innings. Kerry Wood pitched two scoreless innings, and Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth inning to seal the win for the Yankees.
The 2005 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the American League side in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2005 postseason, began on Tuesday, October 4, and ended on Monday, October 10, with the champions of the three AL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. They were:
The 2006 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the American League side in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2006 postseason, began on Tuesday, October 3, and ended on Saturday, October 7, with the champions of the three AL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. They were:
The 1996 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the American League side in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 1996 postseason, began on Tuesday, October 1, and ended on Saturday, October 5, with the champions of the three AL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were:
The 2007 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the American League side in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2007 postseason, began on Wednesday, October 3 and ended on Monday, October 8. The 2007 AL Division Series consisted of three AL division champions and one wild card team, participating in two best-of-five series. They were:
The 2009 American League Championship Series (ALCS), the second round of the American League side in Major League Baseball's 2009 postseason, was a best-of-seven-game series matching the two winners of the 2009 American League Division Series. The AL East Division champions and overall #1 seed, the New York Yankees, defeated the AL West Division champions, the second-seeded Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, four games to two, to advance to the 2009 World Series, their first since 2003. This was the third time that these two teams faced each other in the playoffs. They met in the 2002 ALDS and 2005 ALDS with the Angels winning both series by 3–1 and 3–2.
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The 2010 American League Division Series (ALDS) were two best-of-five-game series in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2010 postseason to determine the participating teams in the 2010 American League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth "Wild Card" team played in two series from October 6 to 12. TBS televised all games in the United States.
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The 2011 American League Championship Series (ALCS) was a best-of-seven playoff in Major League Baseball's 2011 postseason that pitted the winners of the 2011 American League Division Series, against each other for the American League. The Rangers won the series, 4–2, but would ultimately lose to the National League champion, the St. Louis Cardinals, in the 2011 World Series. The series began on October 8, and ended on October 15. The series was the 42nd in league history.
The 2011 American League Division Series were two best-of-five playoffs comprising the opening round of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2011 postseason, played to determine the participating teams in the 2011 American League Championship Series. Three divisional winners and a fourth team—a wild card—played in two series. TBS televised all games but the Game 2's of both series in the United States. The Game 2's of both series were aired on TNT due to schedule conflicts with other ALDS games or the NLDS. The regular season finished on September 28, with the ALDS beginning September 30. Game 5 of the Yankees–Tigers series was played on October 6.
The 2012 American League Division Series were two best-of-five-game series in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2012 postseason to determine the participating teams in the 2012 American League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth team—the winner of a one-game Wild Card playoff— played in two series. TBS carried most of the games, with some on MLB Network or TNT.
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The 2017 American League Division Series were two best-of-five-games series held in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2017 postseason to determine the participating teams in the 2017 American League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth team—the winner of a one-game Wild Card playoff—played in two series.
The 2018 American League Division Series were two best-of-five-game series in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2018 postseason to determine the participating teams of the 2018 American League Championship Series. The three divisional winners, seeded 1–3, and a fourth team — the Wild Card Game winner — played in two series. These matchups were:
The 2018 American League Championship Series was a best-of-seven series in Major League Baseball's 2018 postseason pitting the defending World Series champion and second-seeded Houston Astros against the overall #1 seed Boston Red Sox, for the American League (AL) pennant and the right to play in the 2018 World Series. The series was played in a 2–3–2 format, with the first two and last two games played at the home ballpark of the team with the better regular season record, the Red Sox. The series was the 49th in league history, with TBS televising all games in the United States. The Red Sox defeated the Astros in five games.
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