The New York Yankees were down 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday night at Yankee Stadium in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins.
Twins closer Joe Nathan entered the game, with some bad post season history and all of the Yankees clutch numbers at home, a comeback win had to be on the minds of many.
With no outs, Mark Teixeira singled down the right field line.
Enter, Alex Rodriguez.
With the playoff monkey nearly off his back after getting out to a good start on Wednesday in the Yankees 7-2 victory, A-Rod came through big.
On a 3-1 count, Rodriguez launched a huge two-run home run to right center field that scored Mark Teixeira and tied the game up at three all. A fist pump and hugs all around, A-Rod then stepped out for an October curtian call.
I will go back to a favorite Alex Rodriguez quote of mine and I will leave this topic alone, this was said a few years back, “I've done a lot of special things in this game, and for none of that to be considered clutch, it's an injustice.”
Later in the game, the Yankees had a chance to win it in the bottom of the tenth. Johnny Damon lined into an inning ending double play, stranding speedster Brett Gardner at third.
Then, in the top of the 11th, the Twins had the bases loaded and nobody out. After a line drive, a force out at home and a fly out to center, the Yankees got life again.
In the bottom of the 11th, the first man up was Mark Teixeira, and that was all the Yankees would need.
Teixeira sent a "Tex Message" to left on a line drive walk-off home run to left to end it, the 16th walk-off for the Yankees this season.
“I don’t think there’s anything better in sports,” Teixeira said. “Best place to play in the world.”
The blast was the 11th time the Yankees have ended a post season game with a home run.
Some of the most notable ones, the Aaron Boone 2003 ALCS home run in Game 7. Then, the Derek Jeter home run during Game 4 of the 2001 World Series, when the clock struck midnight on November 1st, a shot deep to right in the bottom of the tenth inning, earning him the nickname, "Mr. November".
This is an unbelievable season for New York, but it isn't over.
As they head to Minnesota up two games to none, this is only the beginning of the post season.
You just can't write it any better then this so far, it actually does feel like your watching a story unfold before your eyes.
Sunday, the story continues.
On the mound for the Twins, Carl Pavano, the former Yankee pitcher who underperformed and stayed injured after a big contract was signed.
Andy Pettitte will be looking to close the door on the ALDS chapter for New York.
We're going to send you the most entertaining New York Yankees articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
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