Yankees Rally to Steal Game One from Rangers

Players of the Day for Friday, October 15, 2010

American League

Texas isn't likely to get many better changes at beating the Yankees than the one they had in Game One of the ALCS Friday night in Arlington.

After getting to C.C. Sabathia with three runs in the first inning and two more in the 4th, the Rangers had everything in Game One going their way. C.J. wilson was working a shutout and there was no way the Yankees were going to come back from a 5-run deficit.

Oh, no? Think again. After Robinson Cano's solo homer in the 7th cut the lead to four, the Yankees rallied for five runs in a wild 8th inning which sent Wilson to the shower and went through four more Ranger hurlers before it was over, with the Yankees coming out on top of a 6-5 score.

It all started with Brett Gardner's head-first slide into first base, beating the toss from Jorge Cantu to Wilson, covering on the play. Wilson would later say he stepped on Gardner's hand as the two converged on the base.

Derek Jeter doubled home Gardner with the Yankees' second run, and that was it for Wilson. Then the floodgates opened. Walks to Nick Swisher and Mark Teixiera loaded the bases for Alex Rodriguez, who singled home a pair. After Cano singled home Teixeira with the tying run, Marcus Thames muscled a broken bat single to left, driving in Rodriguez from third with what proved to be the game winner.

Cano finished the night 3-for-4, with a homer and two ribbies. The Yankee bullpen deserves a great deal of credit for keeping the game within reach, limiting the Rangers to one hit over the final five innings, that off Mariano Rivera in the desperate 9th inning which came to no avail.

The Rangers must regroup quickly for Game Two, which starts at 4:07 pm ET. Colby Lewis goes to the mound for Texas, while Phil Hughes gets the nod for the Yankees.

Following that game, the Phillis and Giants open the NLCS in Philadelphia. The Gaints' Tim Lincecum faces off with Philly's fabulous Roy Halladay in what may prove to be a pitching match-up for the ages. Game time is 7:37 pm ET.