Game three of ALDS recap

By Kshell

Today the American League was playing playoff games while the National League had a day off. Both road teams were facing elimination on their season. One team was blown out from the start and ended up being swept. The other team rallied in the 8th inning to keep its season alive.

The Yankees bust out the bats in 6-1 win over the Twins; sweep series 3-0

The New York Yankees for the fourth time since 2003 have ended the Minnesota Twins season. The Yankees behind the pitching of Phil Hughes and the home runs by Marcus Thames and Nick Swisher beat the Twins 6-1.

The Yankees were on the board first after Robinson Cano hit a leadoff triple, Jorge Posada drove him in with an RBI single. With the Yankees leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth the game was blown up with a two run home run by Marcus Thames. The Yankees chased starter Brian Duensing who lasted just 3.1 innings allowing 5 runs. While his counter part Phillip Hughes who was making his first career postseason start went 7 innings allowing zero runs and striking out 6. He was replacing last years game two starter A.J.Burnett who was left off the postseason ALDS roster.

With the Yankees leading 6-1 the scariest man in October came in to pitch. For opposing fans Mariano Rivera is more scary to see than Michael Myers on Halloween. Rivera of course closed out the game and the series. The Yankees have now beaten the Twins nine straight games. This was the first game in those nine where the Yankees didn't trail the Twins.

This was the first time ever in New York Yankees history they won a postseason series as a wild card team. Many forgot that these Yankees are still the defending World Champions and they'll wait for the Tampa Bay/Texas winner in the ALCS.

Tampa Bay rallies to keep their season alive with 6-3 win

John Jaso had a huge go ahead base hit scoring Carlos Pena with two outs to finally give Tampa Bay its first lead of the series. Tampa Bay erupted for five runs in the last two innings of the game. Tampa Bay the previous 25 innings had scored just two runs.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the 7th, Ian Kinsler of Texas hit a home run to deep left field off of starter Matt Garza. The Rangers led 2-1 and were just six outs away from their first ever playoff series win.

Tampa Bay was down to its last five outs when Dan Johnson hit a double to get in scoring position. Carlos had a single to shallow right field to tie the game up at 2. After John Jaso gave Tampa Bay its first series lead at 3-2 in the 8th Tampa Bay continued to erupt in the 9th off of closer Neftali Feliz. Felix gave up a home run to Carl Crawford to extend the lead 4-2. Carlos Pena put the game away with a two run home run off of Dustin Nippert to give Tampa a 6-2 lead. Tampa Bay would hang on to win 6-3.

Texas must make a tough decision which is despite being up 2-1 do you pitch Cliff Lee in game four? If Texas has any shot at beating the Yankees the next round they would like to have Lee in game one. If Texas loses another at home they'll have to go back to Tampa Bay where nobody thought Tampa Bay would host another home game.

So we saw one team who is used to clinching in the New York Yankees taking care of business. The Yankees advancing to their ninth ALCS since 1996. We also saw another team who has never clinched a postseason series have to wait another day.