It took the New York Yankees six games to beat the Los Angeles Angels in the ALCS as they won game six last night 5-2 at Yankee Stadium.  The Yankees got a great start from Andy Pettite, who went 6.1 innings and gave up only one earned run on seven hits and six K’s.  Pettite got his record breaking 16th career postseason win.  Joba Chamberlain did his job, finishing up the seventh inning for Pettite and setting it up for Mariano Rivera and his two-inning save.  Rivera did make things interesting in the eighth inning, giving up a run and making it a 3-2 game.  The Yankees tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth though, and Rivera settled down in the ninth to finish off the Phillies.

Johnny Damon had a big game at the plate in game six with two RBIs on two hits and a walk.  Alex Rodriguez was still hot, going 2-2 with three walks and an RBI.  ARod dominated in this series, hitting .429 with three HR’s, seven RBIs, eight walks, and a stolen base. He didn’t win ALCS MVP though, as C.C. Sabathia got that honor after having two dominant starts in game one and game four.  Sabathia pitched 16 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on nine hits and 12 K’s and will be starting game one of the World Series against his former Cleveland Indians teammate Cliff Lee.  The Yankees clinched their 40th trip to the World Series and game one is on Wednesday in New York against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The New York Yankees let the Los Angeles Angels back in the series with their 7-6 loss in game 5 to put the series at 3-2.  After being down 4-0 for most of the game, the Yankees put up six big runs in the top of the 7th inning.  They gave the lead right back to the Angels in the bottom of that inning, with the Angels putting up three more runs. They were able to load the bases in the 9th, but Nick Swisher popped out to end the game.  Swisher has been terrible at the plate this series, batting .118 with no RBIs.  The Yankees really need a good and long start from starting pitcher Andy Pettitte tomorrow night in game six.  The closer he can get to Mariano Rivera time, the better.  Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlien have been a little shaky this postseason, so if Pettitte can go at least seven innings the Yankees will be in great shape. Alex Rodriguez is continuing to hit like a man on a mission, so I am expecting the Angels to continue to walk him whenever they can.  The Yankees really need to close this series and do not want to go to a game seven, even though it would be at home.

The Yankees have went to a three man rotation for the A.L.C.S. and C.C. Sabathia has responded big time. He has started 3 games for the Yankees so far this post season and he is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. Part of his success is the fact that he has been pounding the strike zone only walking 3 batters while whiffing 20 of them in 22 2/3 innings. Signing Sabathia over the winter looks like money well spend for the Yankees.

With A-Rod off to such a great start to the post season Yankees’ fans need to bitch about someone else. That could wind up being Mark Teixeira if he doesn’t start hitting the ball soon. He has played in all 7 post season games for the Yankees and he is only 4 for 30 (.133 avg, .468 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. Lucky for him the rest of the Yankees’ lineup has been really hitting the baseball well.

Alex Rodriguez has shaken off his reputation of not playing well when the games get big in October. In 7 post season games this year, A-Rod is 11 for 27 (.407 avg, 1.469 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 5 homers, 11 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Teams continue to challenge A-Rod in big spots of the game and he has been making them pay big time. I can see Yankees’ fans starting to act like Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) at the end of Superman II when he says, “I was with you all the way Superman”.