Angels vs. Red Sox: The Red Sox were eliminated in the ALDS,as they lost to the Angels, 7-6 and were swept. Red Sox Nation was shocked, and the with the Angels’ backs against the wall in the ninth inning, they broke through and sent Papelbon reeling.
Papelbon blew a potential save with 2 outs in the ninth, allowing three runs to come in. He made the ninth inning very interesting as he gave up a RBI-double to Bobby Abreu to bring the Angels within one, and allowed the winning runs to come in via a two-run single fromVladmir Guerrero. Papebon would take the loss, while Kevin Jepsen — who was pitching in relief for the Angels in the 8th inning — earned the win. Brian Fuentes — the Los Angeles closer — got the save.
Clay Buchholz got a no decision in his first taste of the playoffs as he went five innings, and gave up two runs.
Meanwhile, Scott Kazmir, who has had a lot of good luck against the Red Sox – as a member of the Rays before he got traded to the Angels – got the no decision as he gave up five runs (all earned).
The Red Sox got Kazmir in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead as Dustin Pedroia had an RBI-double to center, and then Victor Martinez plated him in with single.
However, in the fourth inning, Kendry Morales hit a solo homer to right off of Buccholz to give Los Angeles their first run of the game.
The Red Sox raised their lead in the fourth inning to 5-1 as J.D. Drew hit a two-run shot off Kazmir to dead-center field over the outfield wall.
However, in the sixth, Clay Buchholz ran into a bit a trouble and loaded the bases; therefore, he was yanked from the game and reliever Daniel Bard came into the game. Bard got Juan Rivera to ground into a double play and allowed a run to come in, but was able to get the third out of the frame by getting Macier Izturis to pop-up.
The Angels got on the Red Sox bullpen in the top of the eighth inning as they allowed a few baserunners and then Juan Rivera plated in two runs with a two-out single; however, Rivera was lifted for a pinch runner – who was Reggie Willits, but he would be picked off by Jonathan Papelbon.
Boston added in an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as Mike Lowell plated in pinch-runner Joey Gathright – in for David Ortiz – to give them a 6-4 lead.
Yankees vs. Twins:
Do you think that Carl Pavano was pumped and ready to face the Yankees — his former mates, or what?
He was, but despite a solid outing, he and his Minnesota Twins lost to the New York Yankees, 2-1 and are now eliminated from the playoffs. The Yankees will face the Angels later on in the week to kick off the ALCS.
New York’s Andy Pettitte was strong as he went 6 1/3 innings and gave up a run; meanwhile, Pavano went seven innings and just gave up two runs on five hits. Mariano Rivera got the save.
It looks like the last MLB game has been played in the Metrodome.
The Twins finally got to the Yankees in the sixth inning, with two runners on base, Joe Mauer hit a RBI-single to right plating Denard Span giving them a 1-0 lead.
However, Minnesota’s lead was very short-lived as in the seventh inning, Alex Rodriguez hit an opposite field homer to right to tie the game at 1-1. The next batter for New York, Jorge Posada raised the score 2-1 as he took Pavano deep with an opposite field homer and at the point, it felt like the excitement that Twins fans had on Sunday was gone.
Minnesota had a golden chance to make something of Sunday’s game in the eighth inning, but there was a huge running gaffe that’s been all too common during the playoffs for them. With no outs in the frame, Nick Punto – who was racing home off a Denard Span single – got caught between home and third as Jeter fielded Span’s single. Then Jeter threw home, and catcher Jorge Posada nailed Punto trying to get back to third.
That took the sails out of a potential rally. The Twins after that could not get a run in and they ended the eighth still down 2-1.
Minnesota dug a hole for themselves as their bullpen not could not keep the deficit at one. The Yankees loaded the bases and then Jorge Posada plated in a run, and then Robinson Cano followed it up with a RBI-single to right that got past a diving Jason Kubel to give them a 4-1 advantage.
Finally, I noticed TBS actually showed a fan that ran onto the field during the ninth inning of Sunday’s game. Funny, I thought most networks don’t show fans engaging in such activity as to not influence others; however, it was kind of funny to hear the broadcasters talk about the idiotic fan in such sneering fashion.
Phillies vs. Rockies: It was cold in the Rocky Mountains on Sunday and the Phillies – the reigning World Champions – had to deal with a ridiculous start time to appease MLB and the networks; however, in the end, at 2am in the morning (eastern time), they upended Colorado, 6-5, to take a 2-1 lead in their five-game series.
The game was close until the bitter end, but Philadelphia’s Brad Lidge – the closer who has struggled this season – ran into a little trouble in the final frame, but retired Troy Tulowitzki to end the game.
Chad Durbin – who pitched the eighth inning for Philadelphia – got the win. Both starting pitchers – J.A. Happ for Philadlephia and Jason Hammel of the Rockies – both got no-decisions as Happ didn’t last more than three inning and gave up three runs, while Hammel only lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up four.
Philadelphia got on the board first thanks to a Chase Utley solo homer in the opening frame; however, Colorado took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to a Todd Helton groundout and a Garrett Atkins RBI-single. The Rockies added another run to take a 3-1 lead off a Atkins’ RBI-double.
The Phillies took a 4-3 lead in the fourth that started off with a Ryan Howard RBI-single with two men, and then the game was tied as Raul Ibanez scored a bases-loaded walk to plate Jayson Werth. They took the lead as Carlos Ruiz singled to left plating Ibanez.
As quickly as the Phillies got their lead, they gave up it as Carlos Gonzalez hit a solo homer to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth.
Philadelphia took back in the lead in the sixth as Carlos Ruiz singled in a run; however, Colorado tied the game in the bottom of the seventh as Tulowitizki hit a sacrifice fly to center.
However, the Phillies took the lead for good off Huston Street – the Colorado closer who relied upon to hold the game where it was, but took the loss – as he gave up a sacrifice fly to Ryan Howard.
