2010 American League Championship Series
Encyclopedia
The 2010 American League Championship Series
(ALCS) was the best-of-seven game series pitting the winners of the 2010 American League Division Series
for the American League Championship. The American League
wild card
-winning New York Yankees
faced the American League Western Division champions Texas Rangers
. The Rangers won the 2010 ALCS and face the National League champion
San Francisco Giants
in the 2010 World Series
, the franchise's first ever appearance in the World Series. The series, the 41st in league history, began October 15 and ended on October 22. The Rangers had home field advantage in the series, as the wild-card team defers home field advantage in the LDS and LCS regardless of regular-season record.
The Rangers and Yankees had met in the postseason in each of the Rangers' three previous postseason appearances; the Yankees had won all previous meetings, 3–1 in the 1996 ALDS
, and 3–0 in the 1998
and 1999
ALDS.
) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas
The Yankees quickly fell behind as the Rangers got to their ace, CC Sabathia. In the first inning Josh Hamilton cracked a three-run home run to put Texas out in front. Michael Young added two more runs in the fourth with a double. Rangers starter C. J. Wilson had gone for seven strong innings, allowing only a single earned run, a solo homer by Robinson Canó
.
In the eighth inning, New York left fielder Brett Gardner
reached base on an infield single to lead off the top of the inning and scored on a double by Derek Jeter
. Darren Oliver
relieved Wilson and allowed back-to-back walks to Nick Swisher
and Mark Teixeira
to load the bases with nobody out for Alex Rodriguez
. Rodriguez hit a two-RBI single, reducing the deficit to 5–4. Robinson Canó tied the game with a single and Marcus Thames
followed with a single of his own to give the Yankees a 6–5 lead.
That lead would be enough, as Kerry Wood
shut down the Rangers in the eighth and in the ninth Mariano Rivera
secured his 42nd postseason save.
) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas
Once again the Yankees starter, this time Phil Hughes, lasted only four innings. The Rangers' Elvis Andrus
scored on a double steal in the bottom of the first inning. David Murphy's solo home run in the second and three straight two-out hits by Mitch Moreland
, Elvis Andrus
, and Michael Young made the score 3–0.
Nelson Cruz hit a lead-off double off the right field wall in the bottom of the third and advanced to third base on Ian Kinsler
's sacrifice bunt. Murphy and Bengie Molina
's consecutive doubles increased the lead to five.
Robinson Canó
answered with a lead-off double off the center field wall in the top of the fourth. Canó advanced to third on a wild pitch. Colby Lewis
struck out Nick Swisher
and Jorge Posada
, but surrendered an RBI single to Lance Berkman
. Berkman's hard hit just passed first baseman Moreland's glove but Moreland recovered the ball and caught Berkman between first and second base.
Cruz hit another lead-off double in the bottom of the fifth and scored on Kinsler's RBI triple. Hughes was then relieved by Joba Chamberlain
. Chamberlain struck out Murphy and Molina, but surrendered an RBI single to Moreland.
Canó hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning, but, despite having runners in scoring position the next three innings, the Yankees never scored again.
This was Rangers' first postseason home game win, and it also snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Yankees in postseason.
) at Yankee Stadium
in the Bronx, New York
Rangers ace
Cliff Lee continued his postseason dominance as he pitched eight scoreless innings on 122 pitches, striking out thirteen while allowing only two hits and one walk. Josh Hamilton's two-run homer in the top of the first inning gave the Rangers an early lead which they never relinquished. After the Hamilton home run, Yankees starter Andy Pettitte and reliever Kerry Wood
combined threw scoreless innings.
The Rangers padded their lead in the top of the ninth inning, scoring six runs off three Yankees relievers. Rangers closer
Neftali Feliz, entering the game in a non-save situation, pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth inning to preserve the shutout. The Yankees' offense was just 1-for-14 with RISP over the last two games. Derek Jeter
's postseason streak of getting on base in 21 consecutive games was stopped, as he went 0 for 4 and was not walked. His first at-bat was a pop-fly; the second, third, and fourth at-bats were strike-outs.
Lee's shutout was the first time that the Yankees had failed to score a run in a post-season game since being shut out by the Detroit Tigers
on October 6, 2006.
) at Yankee Stadium
in the Bronx, New York
The Yankees jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the second on a controversial solo home run from Robinson Canó
. Canó hit the ball over the right field wall and right-field umpire
Jim Reynolds
ruled the ball a home run, but Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz argued that there was spectator interference. Television replays showed that the fans did not illegally interfere with the ball directly, but that a few fans did touch Cruz's glove while it was over the field of play. Instant replay review was not used and the home run call stood. Two batters later, Lance Berkman
hit the ball deep to right field and was initially ruled a home run by Reynolds, but the umpires elected to use instant replay review and overturned the call to a foul ball
; Berkman eventually struck out looking.
The Rangers took back the lead in the top of the third. David Murphy led off the inning with a walk
and Bengie Molina
was hit by a pitch
. A sacrifice bunt by Mitch Moreland
followed by a RBI grounder from Elvis Andrus
scored Murphy from third. Michael Young followed Andrus with an infield hit that drove in Molina.
In the bottom half of the third, Derek Jeter
tripled and scored on a Curtis Granderson
RBI single to tie the game at 2–2.
In the bottom of the fourth inning Alex Rodriguez
was hit by a pitch, and Canó and Berkman each singled to load the bases
. Nick Swisher
struck out, and Rangers starting pitcher Tommy Hunter
was replaced by Derek Holland
. Brett Gardner
hit a hard RBI grounder to shortstop Elvis Andrus, who forced Canó out at third but allowed Rodriguez to score, giving the Yankees a one-run lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, Vladimir Guerrero
singled, but was forced out
at second on a Cruz grounder that resulted in Cruz safely reaching first. Cruz then tagged up
to second on Ian Kinsler
's fly out. David Murphy was then intentionally walked
to get to Bengie Molina. On the first pitch of the at bat
, Molina hit a three-run home run to left field, giving the Rangers a 5–3 lead.
The Rangers continued to pile onto their lead in the top of the seventh as Josh Hamilton hit a solo home run against Boone Logan
. Guerrero then doubled, Cruz walked, and Kinsler hit a bloop single to right field to extend the lead to 7–3.
In the bottom of the eighth, Holland walked Granderson and was replaced with Darren O'Day
. O'Day then walked Rodriguez and was replaced by Clay Rapada
, who promptly walked Canó. Finally, Darren Oliver
came in and got Swisher to pop up and Berkman to ground out.
In the top of the ninth, Hamilton hit another solo home run off Yankees reliever Sergio Mitre
which tied the ALCS home run records. Guerrero followed up with an infield single. Cruz then homered to left to make the score 10–3.
In the bottom of the ninth, Gardner singled and took second base on defensive indifference. Posada grounded out allowing Gardner to advance to third base, Jeter flew out, and Granderson lined out to Moreland, stranding Gardner at third base, and ending the game with a 10–3 score.
The Canó home run has been compared to the Jeffrey Maier
play, according to many analysts. When asked about the Canó controversy, Maier replied, "it was pretty funny."
) at Yankee Stadium
in the Bronx, New York
The Yankees struck in the bottom of the second as Alex Rodriguez
walked. Marcus Thames
popped out, then Lance Berkman
walked. Jorge Posada
then hit a RBI single for the first run of the game. Curtis Granderson
followed with a single of his own, driving in another. Jeff Francoeur
's error scored another, making the score 3–0.
The Yankees got two more runs as Nick Swisher
and Robinson Canó
hit back-to-back solo homers, extending the lead to five. Canó's homer was his fourth in the series. The homer also tied the ALCS home run records.
Sabathia gave up his first run in the top of the fifth as Matt Treanor
homered. The Yankees responded in the bottom of the inning as Swisher walked and Canó lined out. Rodriguez then hit a double, followed by Berkman's sacrifice fly that scored Swisher.
In the top of the sixth, Vladimir Guerrero
struck out. David Murphy, Ian Kinsler
, and Francoeur hit consecutive singles. Treanor's grounder to third brought in a run, but Sabathia struck out Moreland to end the inning with runners on second and third.
Although Sabathia allowed two runs and eleven hits, he gave the Yankees six innings. Kerry Wood
pitched two scoreless innings, and Mariano Rivera
pitched the ninth inning to seal the win for the Yankees.
) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas
Elvis Andrus
doubled to lead off the bottom of the first, advanced to third on a Josh Hamilton single and scored on an RBI groundout from Vladimir Guerrero
. Texas starter Colby Lewis
shut down the Yankees until the top of the fifth, when Alex Rodriguez
doubled and later scored on a wild pitch
that appeared to hit
Nick Swisher
.
In the bottom of that same inning, with Mitch Moreland
on third and two outs, Yankees starter Phil Hughes intentionally walked
Hamilton to face Guerrero. Guerrero doubled
to score both Moreland and Hamilton. Hughes was then replaced by David Robertson
, who promptly gave up a two-run home run to Nelson Cruz to give Texas a 5–1 lead. Ian Kinsler
added a run on a sacrifice fly
in the seventh inning.
In the ninth, Neftali Feliz closed out the series for Texas, striking out Alex Rodriguez looking to send the Rangers to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
over New York Yankees
and John Smoltz
in the broadcast booth. For international viewers, MLB International broadcasted all the games, with the broadcast team of Gary Thorne
and Rick Sutcliffe announcing.
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
(ALCS) was the best-of-seven game series pitting the winners of the 2010 American League Division Series
2010 American League Division Series
The 2010 American League Division Series were two best-of-five game series to determine the participating teams in the 2010 American League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth "Wild Card" team played in two series from October 6 to October 12...
for the American League Championship. The American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
wild card
Major League Baseball Wild Card
In Major League Baseball, the wild-card playoff spot is given to the team in each league with the best record among the non-division winners. It was established for Major League Baseball's playoffs in 1994 with the intention of helping the best teams that did not win their division to still have a...
-winning New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
faced the American League Western Division champions Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. The Rangers won the 2010 ALCS and face the National League champion
2010 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 2010 — 7:30 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaIn one of the most touted postseason pitching matchups in recent history, two former Cy Young Award winners faced off: Roy Halladay for the Phillies and Tim Lincecum for the Giants...
San Francisco Giants
2010 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants are an American Major League Baseball team. Their 2010 season marked their 128th year in Major League Baseball, and their fifty-third year in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season...
in the 2010 World Series
2010 World Series
The 2010 World Series was the 106th occurrence of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff, played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion San Francisco Giants, began on Wednesday, , and ended on Monday, , with the Giants...
, the franchise's first ever appearance in the World Series. The series, the 41st in league history, began October 15 and ended on October 22. The Rangers had home field advantage in the series, as the wild-card team defers home field advantage in the LDS and LCS regardless of regular-season record.
The Rangers and Yankees had met in the postseason in each of the Rangers' three previous postseason appearances; the Yankees had won all previous meetings, 3–1 in the 1996 ALDS
1996 American League Division Series
-Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees:-Game 1, October 1:Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MarylandIt was Baltimore's first playoff game since the clinching Game 5 of the 1983 World Series. For the Indians, it was their second consecutive division title. Charles Nagy and David Wells matched...
, and 3–0 in the 1998
1998 American League Division Series
-Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox:-Game 1, September 29:Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkScott Brosius was the hero of Game 1, as Todd Stottlemyre faced David Wells. In the bottom of the second, Stottlemyre yielded two runs when Brosius singled in Jorge Posada after Chad Curtis doubled and...
and 1999
1999 American League Division Series
-Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox:-Game 1, October 5:Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe Yankees once again swept the Rangers and held them to one run through three games. In Game 1, Aaron Sele went against Orlando Hernández...
ALDS.
Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees
Game 1
Friday, October 15, 2010 – 8:00 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
The Yankees quickly fell behind as the Rangers got to their ace, CC Sabathia. In the first inning Josh Hamilton cracked a three-run home run to put Texas out in front. Michael Young added two more runs in the fourth with a double. Rangers starter C. J. Wilson had gone for seven strong innings, allowing only a single earned run, a solo homer by Robinson Canó
Robinson Canó
Robinson José Canó Mercedes is a Dominican baseball player who currently plays as a second baseman for the New York Yankees.-Family and early life:...
.
In the eighth inning, New York left fielder Brett Gardner
Brett Gardner
Brett M. Gardner is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the New York Yankees. Gardner, who is 5' 10", bats and throws left-handed.-College baseball career:...
reached base on an infield single to lead off the top of the inning and scored on a double by Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...
. Darren Oliver
Darren Oliver
Darren Christopher Oliver is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher.Oliver was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 3rd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft, and has had three separate stints with the club.-Early life:...
relieved Wilson and allowed back-to-back walks to Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher is an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Swisher is a switch hitter who throws left-handed....
and Mark Teixeira
Mark Teixeira
Mark Charles Teixeira , nicknamed "Tex" is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Mostly a first baseman, he has also played third base and in the outfield...
to load the bases with nobody out for Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
. Rodriguez hit a two-RBI single, reducing the deficit to 5–4. Robinson Canó tied the game with a single and Marcus Thames
Marcus Thames
Marcus Markley Thames is an American professional baseball outfielder. He has previously played for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers....
followed with a single of his own to give the Yankees a 6–5 lead.
That lead would be enough, as Kerry Wood
Kerry Wood
Kerry Lee Wood is a National Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003....
shut down the Rangers in the eighth and in the ninth Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer...
secured his 42nd postseason save.
Game 2
Saturday, October 16, 2010 – 4:00 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
Once again the Yankees starter, this time Phil Hughes, lasted only four innings. The Rangers' Elvis Andrus
Elvis Andrus
Elvis Augusto Andrus Torres is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Texas Rangers.Entering , he was rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization...
scored on a double steal in the bottom of the first inning. David Murphy's solo home run in the second and three straight two-out hits by Mitch Moreland
Mitch Moreland
Mitchell Austin Moreland is a professional baseball first baseman and right fielder who plays for the Texas Rangers....
, Elvis Andrus
Elvis Andrus
Elvis Augusto Andrus Torres is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Texas Rangers.Entering , he was rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization...
, and Michael Young made the score 3–0.
Nelson Cruz hit a lead-off double off the right field wall in the bottom of the third and advanced to third base on Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
's sacrifice bunt. Murphy and Bengie Molina
Bengie Molina
Benjamin José "Bengie" Molina , nicknamed "Big Money", is a former Major League Baseball catcher.He is the older brother of major league catchers José Molina and Yadier Molina....
's consecutive doubles increased the lead to five.
Robinson Canó
Robinson Canó
Robinson José Canó Mercedes is a Dominican baseball player who currently plays as a second baseman for the New York Yankees.-Family and early life:...
answered with a lead-off double off the center field wall in the top of the fourth. Canó advanced to third on a wild pitch. Colby Lewis
Colby Lewis
Colby Preston Lewis is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers.Lewis was originally a first-round draft choice of the Texas Rangers in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft, and made his major league debut in...
struck out Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher is an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Swisher is a switch hitter who throws left-handed....
and Jorge Posada
Jorge Posada
Jorge Rafael Posada Villeta is a Major League Baseball player who is currently a free agent and has played his entire career for the New York Yankees. He served as the Yankees primary catcher for most of his career, though following off-season knee surgery, he was moved to designated hitter for...
, but surrendered an RBI single to Lance Berkman
Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....
. Berkman's hard hit just passed first baseman Moreland's glove but Moreland recovered the ball and caught Berkman between first and second base.
Cruz hit another lead-off double in the bottom of the fifth and scored on Kinsler's RBI triple. Hughes was then relieved by Joba Chamberlain
Joba Chamberlain
Justin Louis "Joba" Chamberlain is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees.-Early life:Chamberlain was born and grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chamberlain's parents, Harlan Chamberlain and Jackie Standley, were never married and split up when Joba was 18 months old...
. Chamberlain struck out Murphy and Molina, but surrendered an RBI single to Moreland.
Canó hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning, but, despite having runners in scoring position the next three innings, the Yankees never scored again.
This was Rangers' first postseason home game win, and it also snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Yankees in postseason.
Game 3
Monday, October 18, 2010 – 8:00 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
in the Bronx, New York
Rangers ace
Ace (baseball)
In baseball, an ace is the best starting pitcher of any team and nearly always the first pitcher in his starting rotation. Barring injury or exceptional circumstances, an ace usually always starts on Opening Day...
Cliff Lee continued his postseason dominance as he pitched eight scoreless innings on 122 pitches, striking out thirteen while allowing only two hits and one walk. Josh Hamilton's two-run homer in the top of the first inning gave the Rangers an early lead which they never relinquished. After the Hamilton home run, Yankees starter Andy Pettitte and reliever Kerry Wood
Kerry Wood
Kerry Lee Wood is a National Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003....
combined threw scoreless innings.
The Rangers padded their lead in the top of the ninth inning, scoring six runs off three Yankees relievers. Rangers closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Neftali Feliz, entering the game in a non-save situation, pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth inning to preserve the shutout. The Yankees' offense was just 1-for-14 with RISP over the last two games. Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...
's postseason streak of getting on base in 21 consecutive games was stopped, as he went 0 for 4 and was not walked. His first at-bat was a pop-fly; the second, third, and fourth at-bats were strike-outs.
Lee's shutout was the first time that the Yankees had failed to score a run in a post-season game since being shut out by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
on October 6, 2006.
Game 4
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 – 8:00 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
in the Bronx, New York
The Yankees jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the second on a controversial solo home run from Robinson Canó
Robinson Canó
Robinson José Canó Mercedes is a Dominican baseball player who currently plays as a second baseman for the New York Yankees.-Family and early life:...
. Canó hit the ball over the right field wall and right-field umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
Jim Reynolds
Jim Reynolds
James Norris Reynolds IV is a Major League Baseball umpire. He joined the major league staff in and wears uniform number 77....
ruled the ball a home run, but Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz argued that there was spectator interference. Television replays showed that the fans did not illegally interfere with the ball directly, but that a few fans did touch Cruz's glove while it was over the field of play. Instant replay review was not used and the home run call stood. Two batters later, Lance Berkman
Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....
hit the ball deep to right field and was initially ruled a home run by Reynolds, but the umpires elected to use instant replay review and overturned the call to a foul ball
Foul ball
In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that:* Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or* Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or...
; Berkman eventually struck out looking.
The Rangers took back the lead in the top of the third. David Murphy led off the inning with a walk
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
and Bengie Molina
Bengie Molina
Benjamin José "Bengie" Molina , nicknamed "Big Money", is a former Major League Baseball catcher.He is the older brother of major league catchers José Molina and Yadier Molina....
was hit by a pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
. A sacrifice bunt by Mitch Moreland
Mitch Moreland
Mitchell Austin Moreland is a professional baseball first baseman and right fielder who plays for the Texas Rangers....
followed by a RBI grounder from Elvis Andrus
Elvis Andrus
Elvis Augusto Andrus Torres is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Texas Rangers.Entering , he was rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization...
scored Murphy from third. Michael Young followed Andrus with an infield hit that drove in Molina.
In the bottom half of the third, Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...
tripled and scored on a Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Before joining the Yankees in 2010, he played with the Detroit Tigers . A center fielder, Granderson is known for being a five-tool player...
RBI single to tie the game at 2–2.
In the bottom of the fourth inning Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
was hit by a pitch, and Canó and Berkman each singled to load the bases
Bases loaded
In the sport of baseball, the bases are loaded when there is a runner on each base . This presents a great scoring opportunity for the batting team, but it also presents an easy double play opportunity for the defense. Causing the bases to become loaded is called loading the bases...
. Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher is an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Swisher is a switch hitter who throws left-handed....
struck out, and Rangers starting pitcher Tommy Hunter
Tommy Hunter (baseball)
Raymond Thomas "Tommy" Hunter is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles....
was replaced by Derek Holland
Derek Holland (baseball)
Derek Lane Holland is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers. He is noted for his kid-like appearance....
. Brett Gardner
Brett Gardner
Brett M. Gardner is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the New York Yankees. Gardner, who is 5' 10", bats and throws left-handed.-College baseball career:...
hit a hard RBI grounder to shortstop Elvis Andrus, who forced Canó out at third but allowed Rodriguez to score, giving the Yankees a one-run lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Alvino Guerrero is a free agent Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter.In , he was voted the American League MVP...
singled, but was forced out
Force play
In baseball, a force is a situation when a baserunner is compelled to vacate his time-of-pitch base—and thus try to advance to the next base—because the batter became a runner. A runner at first base is always forced to attempt to advance to second base when the batter becomes a runner...
at second on a Cruz grounder that resulted in Cruz safely reaching first. Cruz then tagged up
Tag up
In baseball, to tag up is to retouch or remain on the runner's time-of-pitch base until the ball either lands in fair territory or is first touched by a fielder. A runner must, by rule, tag up only when a batted ball is caught by a fielder . After a legal tag up, even if the ball was caught in...
to second on Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
's fly out. David Murphy was then intentionally walked
Intentional base on balls
In baseball, an intentional base on balls, usually referred to as an intentional walk and denoted in baseball scorekeeping by IBB, is a walk issued to a batter by a pitcher with the intent of removing the batter's opportunity to swing at the pitched ball...
to get to Bengie Molina. On the first pitch of the at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, Molina hit a three-run home run to left field, giving the Rangers a 5–3 lead.
The Rangers continued to pile onto their lead in the top of the seventh as Josh Hamilton hit a solo home run against Boone Logan
Boone Logan
Boone Logan is a left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Logan previously played for the Chicago White Sox from 2006–2008 and the Atlanta Braves in 2009.-Playing career:...
. Guerrero then doubled, Cruz walked, and Kinsler hit a bloop single to right field to extend the lead to 7–3.
In the bottom of the eighth, Holland walked Granderson and was replaced with Darren O'Day
Darren O'Day
Darren Christopher O'Day is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. He played college baseball for the University of Florida, and has played professionally for the Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, and Texas Rangers...
. O'Day then walked Rodriguez and was replaced by Clay Rapada
Clay Rapada
Clayton Anthony Rapada is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball.-Career:...
, who promptly walked Canó. Finally, Darren Oliver
Darren Oliver
Darren Christopher Oliver is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher.Oliver was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 3rd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft, and has had three separate stints with the club.-Early life:...
came in and got Swisher to pop up and Berkman to ground out.
In the top of the ninth, Hamilton hit another solo home run off Yankees reliever Sergio Mitre
Sergio Mitre
Sergio Armando Mitre is a American professional baseball pitcher.-Background:Mitre is of Mexican American descent. He grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, where he trained in the arts of kenpo, boxing and wrestling due to frequent street fights.Mitre graduated from Montgomery High School in San Diego,...
which tied the ALCS home run records. Guerrero followed up with an infield single. Cruz then homered to left to make the score 10–3.
In the bottom of the ninth, Gardner singled and took second base on defensive indifference. Posada grounded out allowing Gardner to advance to third base, Jeter flew out, and Granderson lined out to Moreland, stranding Gardner at third base, and ending the game with a 10–3 score.
The Canó home run has been compared to the Jeffrey Maier
Jeffrey Maier
Jeffrey Maier is an American baseball fan best known for an incident in which he was involved as a twelve-year-old at a baseball game, when he deflected a batted ball in-play into the stands during Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and the...
play, according to many analysts. When asked about the Canó controversy, Maier replied, "it was pretty funny."
Game 5
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 – 4:00 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
in the Bronx, New York
The Yankees struck in the bottom of the second as Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
walked. Marcus Thames
Marcus Thames
Marcus Markley Thames is an American professional baseball outfielder. He has previously played for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers....
popped out, then Lance Berkman
Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....
walked. Jorge Posada
Jorge Posada
Jorge Rafael Posada Villeta is a Major League Baseball player who is currently a free agent and has played his entire career for the New York Yankees. He served as the Yankees primary catcher for most of his career, though following off-season knee surgery, he was moved to designated hitter for...
then hit a RBI single for the first run of the game. Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Before joining the Yankees in 2010, he played with the Detroit Tigers . A center fielder, Granderson is known for being a five-tool player...
followed with a single of his own, driving in another. Jeff Francoeur
Jeff Francoeur
Jeffrey Braden Francoeur , nicknamed "Frenchy", is a Major League Baseball right fielder who now plays for the Kansas City Royals. Francoeur is known for a strong throwing arm.-Minor league career:...
's error scored another, making the score 3–0.
The Yankees got two more runs as Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher is an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Swisher is a switch hitter who throws left-handed....
and Robinson Canó
Robinson Canó
Robinson José Canó Mercedes is a Dominican baseball player who currently plays as a second baseman for the New York Yankees.-Family and early life:...
hit back-to-back solo homers, extending the lead to five. Canó's homer was his fourth in the series. The homer also tied the ALCS home run records.
Sabathia gave up his first run in the top of the fifth as Matt Treanor
Matt Treanor
Matthew Aaron Treanor is an American professional baseball catcher who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball...
homered. The Yankees responded in the bottom of the inning as Swisher walked and Canó lined out. Rodriguez then hit a double, followed by Berkman's sacrifice fly that scored Swisher.
In the top of the sixth, Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Alvino Guerrero is a free agent Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter.In , he was voted the American League MVP...
struck out. David Murphy, Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
, and Francoeur hit consecutive singles. Treanor's grounder to third brought in a run, but Sabathia struck out Moreland to end the inning with runners on second and third.
Although Sabathia allowed two runs and eleven hits, he gave the Yankees six innings. Kerry Wood
Kerry Wood
Kerry Lee Wood is a National Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003....
pitched two scoreless innings, and Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer...
pitched the ninth inning to seal the win for the Yankees.
Game 6
Friday, October 22, 2010 – 8:00 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
Elvis Andrus
Elvis Andrus
Elvis Augusto Andrus Torres is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Texas Rangers.Entering , he was rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization...
doubled to lead off the bottom of the first, advanced to third on a Josh Hamilton single and scored on an RBI groundout from Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Alvino Guerrero is a free agent Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter.In , he was voted the American League MVP...
. Texas starter Colby Lewis
Colby Lewis
Colby Preston Lewis is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers.Lewis was originally a first-round draft choice of the Texas Rangers in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft, and made his major league debut in...
shut down the Yankees until the top of the fifth, when Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
doubled and later scored on a wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
that appeared to hit
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher is an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Swisher is a switch hitter who throws left-handed....
.
In the bottom of that same inning, with Mitch Moreland
Mitch Moreland
Mitchell Austin Moreland is a professional baseball first baseman and right fielder who plays for the Texas Rangers....
on third and two outs, Yankees starter Phil Hughes intentionally walked
Intentional base on balls
In baseball, an intentional base on balls, usually referred to as an intentional walk and denoted in baseball scorekeeping by IBB, is a walk issued to a batter by a pitcher with the intent of removing the batter's opportunity to swing at the pitched ball...
Hamilton to face Guerrero. Guerrero doubled
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
to score both Moreland and Hamilton. Hughes was then replaced by David Robertson
David Robertson (baseball)
David Alan Robertson is a Major League baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees.-High school career:Robertson was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and played his first three years at Central-Tuscaloosa High School. He was a 2-year starter for the Falcons at shortstop and pitcher...
, who promptly gave up a two-run home run to Nelson Cruz to give Texas a 5–1 lead. Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
added a run on a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
in the seventh inning.
In the ninth, Neftali Feliz closed out the series for Texas, striking out Alex Rodriguez looking to send the Rangers to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
Composite box
2010 ALCS (4–2): Texas Rangers2010 Texas Rangers season
The Texas Rangers’ 2010 season was the 50th in franchise history. The team, managed by Ron Washington, won their first division title since 1999 and reached the World Series for the first time in only their fourth playoff appearance. Washington would become only the second manager in franchise...
over New York Yankees
2010 New York Yankees season
The 2010 New York Yankees season was the 110th season for the New York Yankees franchise The Yankees were attempting to defend its status as American League and World Series champions, but lost in the ALCS to the Texas Rangers...
Broadcasting
TBS carried all the games with Ernie Johnson, Ron DarlingRon Darling
Ronald Maurice Darling, Jr. is an American former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Oakland Athletics and Montreal Expos...
and John Smoltz
John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
in the broadcast booth. For international viewers, MLB International broadcasted all the games, with the broadcast team of Gary Thorne
Gary Thorne
Gary Thorne is a play-by-play announcer for ESPN and ABC, working Major League Baseball, College football and Frozen Four hockey contests. He is also the television play-by-play voice of the Baltimore Orioles...
and Rick Sutcliffe announcing.