ALCS Game 2 Big for Yanks

With rumors of a Zach Greinke for Joba Chamberlain off season trade swirling around Rangers Ballpark, the Yankees look to move another step closer to the World Series today versus Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis. After a heart breaking loss to the Yankees in Game 1 the Rangers look to rebound.

What started with Nolan Ryan firing a pitch off the outside corner of the plate in the game's ceremonial first pitch and a line drive 3 run home run off of a struggling C.C. Sabathia by MVP candidate Josh Hamilton, ended the same way every other Rangers playoff game against the Yanks seems to end, with Mariano Rivera closing out the victory. This time the score was 6-5 Yanks at the end in spite of ace C.C. Sabathia struggling for the majority of the his outing.

The Rangers took a 5-1 lead into the 8th inning. A harmless ground ball off of Brett Gardner's bat and ended with a scorching single from Marcus Thames to put the Yankees ahead for good in the top of the 8th. Gardner, after the game, remarked to NJ Star-Ledger columnist Mark Politi "Every time the ball comes off the bat, I just run hard and make them make a play.” At the end of the run he dove head-first into first base and after the game insisted he would have been out had he not.

Before today's game, regarding his speed, he went on to suggest to a group of reporters that there should be a race at the All-Star game every season to determine the fastest player in the big leagues. "I think they need to have a race at the All-Star Game, just line up 10 or 20 guys and see who wins, that would be fun."

Other players in the lineup for this afternoon's game are the usual suspects plus Lance Berkman as the DH instead of Marcus Thames with the righty pitcher throwing today for the Rangers. Taking the hill for the Bombers is Phil Hughes, who won 18 games during the season, good for second on the team behind Sabathia. He looks to not only put the Yankees up 2-0, but also to avenge the hamstring injury that cut short his bid for a no-hitter in the 7th inning of a start in Arlington back in 2007.

Taking a 2-0 lead into Yankee Stadium would be a huge difference from going back to NY tied at one game a piece, especially with Andy Pettitte pitching game 3. One thing is for sure, Brett Gardner won't stop running every single ground ball out as hard as he can "It’s just the way I’ve always played, and playing that way is probably the only thing that got me where I am today."