After Mark Teixeira’s tie-breaking, two-run homer in the seventh, the Yankees needed a four-out save from Mariano Rivera to complete a tense 6-4, come-from-behind victory in the best-of-five opener at Target Field.
On a pleasant Wednesday night, a crowd of 42,032 witnessed the first outdoor playoff game in Minnesota since the 1970 AL Championship Series. They also saw the Twins blow a 3-0 lead against CC Sabathia, who lasted six innings and picked up the victory.
“Our lineup is so deep, there’s never a reason to give up,” said Teixeira, whose one-out double started a four-run sixth inning off Twins starter lefty Francisco Liriano, who had cruised through the first five innings.
“[Sabathia] gave our offense an opportunity to chip away,” Alex Rodriguez said. “We know what it takes (to win). It’s big – especially the way we came back.”
Manager Joe Girardi’s faith in the lefty-hitting Curtis Granderson paid off. Just 4-for-22 lifetime off Liriano entering the game, Granderson hit a two-run triple off the tall, right-center field wall, giving the Yanks a 4-3 lead.
Sabathia would give that back with a bases-loaded walk in the Twins half of the sixth.
In the seventh, Teixeira followed a one-out Nick Swisher single with a soaring, two-run shot to right that flew close to the foul pole off Jesse Crain.
“Game-winning home runs, there’s nothing better,” said Teixeira, whose power declined in September after suffering a bone bruise near his right thumb. A cortisone shot helped, but Teixeira is dealing with some degree of pain.
“It is what it is,” Teixeira said. “I feel good enough to play.”
Teixeira’s homer started a four-man relay team that ended with Rivera, who entered this October having blown three saves in September. He also entered with a 0.74 postseason ERA.
“It’s the playoffs,” Rivera said. “That says everything.”
Summoned with the tying runs in scoring position in the eighth, Rivera fell behind 3-and-0 to Denard Span before getting him on a full-count grounder to shortstop Derek Jeter – who made a nice play to charge the broken bat tapper.
Rivera might have been credited with a five-out save. After getting the first two batters in the ninth (which included catching Joe Mauer’s liner), Rivera thought he got Delmon Young on a diving catch by Greg Golson, just inserted for defense in right.
Umpires ruled the ball was trapped, though replays showed otherwise. All six umpires got together after manager Joe Girardi argued, but the call stood. “It’s part of the game. You get the next one,” said Rivera, who got Jim Thome to pop out to end it. “It looked like my glove went back a little bit, so I could see where there was some confusion,” Golson said. “I’m just glad that play didn’t end up being bigger than it was.”
Tonight, Andy Pettitte tries to get the Yanks ahead 2-0 in this best-of-five series, against ex-Yankee Carl Pavano.
Liriano had retired 10 straight before Teixeira doubled to left and moved up on a wild pitch to start the sixth-inning rally. Alex Rodriguez took a close 3-2 fastball on the inside corner for a pivotal walk.
Robinson Cano followed with a sharp, RBI single to right. And after Marcus Thames struck out, Jorge Posada delivered an RBI single to right, cutting the lead to 3-2.
But the drama was really just beginning.
Sabathia retired the first two batters in the Twins’ sixth before walking Thome and yielding a double to Michael Cuddyer – whose liner to left-center was nearly turned into a spectacular catch by Brett Gardner. As Gardner made a full-out dive, the ball bounced off his glove.
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