Broadway Meets Broad Street: Yanks Clinch 40th Pennant!

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

You'll have to forgive Andy Pettitte if he "misremembered" his last two potential series clinching Game Six starts against Boston and Arizona.  Pettitte was much more focused on what he came back to New York for.  For moments like this, to pitch at the "New Stadium," to win the first clincher in this ballpark.

So Pettitte who started the last World Series game at the old Yankee Stadium (also a Game Six) was on a mission to pitch the New York Yankees into their first World Series in the new house, improving their playoff record in the new joint to 5-0.  Pettitte was also gunning for some personal milestones as well, postseason win number 16 and his fifth series clinching victory, both good enough for best all-time.

After a routine first inning, Vladimir Guerrero picked up a hit.  Then in what was a microcosm of who had the better pitching and fundamentals all series long, Nick Swisher on a shallow fly ball hit by Kendry Morales, doubled up Guerrero who looked a bit like his counterpart on that other L.A. team for a moment.

In the third the Angels struck first, as catcher Jeff Mathis remained in the zone with a soaring double off Pettitte to get things going.  With two down and Mathis moved over to third, Pettitte left a hanging breaking ball for Bobby Abreu to deposit into right putting the Halos on top, 1-0.

After getting out of some early jams Angels starter Joe Saunders got touched up in the fourth.  Robinson Cano drew a walk.  Nick Swisher who initially faked a bunt on the first pitch, which may have influenced where Chone Figgins was playing him, ended up getting a base knock to left setting up first and second with no outs.

Melky Cabrera bunted both runners into scoring position and turned the order around.  Derek Jeter coaxed a walk and Johnny Damon with the bases loaded was primed to do some damage.  Damon sliced a liner to left-center plating Cano and Swisher to put the Yanks on top 2-1.

Mark Teixeira reached on an infield hit to short and A-Rod was walked with the bases loaded scoring Jeter for what ended up being the eventual game winning RBI to give the Yanks a 3-1 edge.

In the sixth Pettitte continued to make big pitches when needed.  After getting Figgins to foul out by hitting the ball off himself in fair territory and retiring Abreu on a grounder to Cano, Pettitte got into a little jam.  Torii Hunter singled after he should've been punched out on a "check swing."  Guerrero hit a double to right and L.A. was in business with two in scoring position and Morales representing the go-ahead run at the plate.  However Pettitte induced Morales to chop back to the mound and the lefty recorded the out at first to retire the side.

After Pettitte was lifted from 6 1/3 solid innings and six strikeouts, Joba Chamberlain came on to hold down the fort.

So with Mariano Rivera on in the eighth to attempt a two inning save, things got somewhat tenuous for Rivera who hadn't pitched since Thursday.  Figgins set the table with a flare to left.  Abreu advanced Figgins on a diving fielder's choice play made by Teixeira.  Following Hunter's ground-out, Guerrero picked up another knock to right scoring Figgins and pulling the Angels to within one, 3-2.  Yet Rivera and the Yankees were able to solve Morales again, getting him to ground to second to end the threat.

In the bottom frame the Angels lack of fundamentals likely made Manager Mike Scioscia go mental.  Cano walked and Swisher trying to advance him on a sac-bunt, reached safely after Howie Kendrick covering first dropped the throw from Morales. 

So it was time once again for Cabrera to lay down a sac-bunt.  That's when Scott Kazmir showed off the new ephius pitch he'd worked on with Rick Peterson, on the throw to first and didn't even give Kendrick a chance to drop it this time.  Cano came around to score and Brett Gardner, running for Swisher, moved over to third. 

Jeter grounded out to Kazmir who this time threw a strike to the bag at first.  Damon walked to load the bases for Teixeira.  Teixeira lifted one to center deep enough to drive home Gardner on a sac-fly and expand the lead, 5-2.

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