CC Brilliant As Yanks Take Opener

(REUTERS/Mike Segar)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
LAA	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0		1	4	3
NYY	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	X		4	10	0

WP - CC Sabathia (1-0)
LP - John Lackey (0-1)
SV - Mariano Rivera (1)

Who said this guy can't pitch in the post season? In two starts so far CC Sabathia has been brilliant, and tonight was even better than his ALDS start. In 8 innings CC allowed just one earned run on four hits, walked one, and struck out seven as he and the Yanks cruised to a 4-1 win over the Angels in the ALCS opener. He threw 113 pitches on the night, 76 of them for strikes.

CC was absolutely dominating tonight leaving many Angels shaking their heads as they walked back to the dugout. He had great command of his fastball, his changeup fooled everyone, and his slider had great movement. Basically, he gave the Yankees everything they could ask for and then some.

The lone run allowed by the big lefty came in the top of the fourth. After getting Torii Hunter to pop out to open the frame, Vladimir Guerrero doubled. Juan Rivera then grounded out to first for the second out, but Kendry Morales drove in the Angels run with a two-out single. That was the only blemish on CC's great night.

Throughout the night the Angels uncharacteristically made mental mistake after mental mistake and the Yankees made them pay each time. One error and another mental mistake in the first inning alone led to two runs. Derek Jeter led off the first inning with a single. Then Johnny Damon followed with a single of his own, moving Jeter to third and scampering into second on Juan Rivera's throwing error. After Mark Teixeira popped to left for the first out of the inning, Alex Rodriguez brought the Yankees first run in with a sac fly to center. Hideki Matsui then hit a pop fly to deep third, for what should have been the final out of the inning, but Erick Aybar and Chone Figgins allowed the ball to fall in between them for an RBI single.

After the Angels cut the lead to 2-1, the Yanks added a run in the bottom of the fifth. Damon led off with a double, then after Teixeira struck out, A-Rod walked. Matsui then doubled into the gap in left-center. Damon scored easily from second, but the throw from Aybar to catcher Jeff Mathis beat A-Rod by about 10 feet. At least A-Rod didn't shy away from the tag and tried to go in shoulder first, but Mathis came over so quickly to make the tag that A-Rod ended up giving Mathis a knee to the face.

Jeter made it 4-1 Yanks with an RBI single in the sixth scoring Melky Cabrera who had walked and moved to second on a throwing error by starting pitcher John Lackey. The play at the plate could have been close, but Hunter committed an error of his own allowing Jeter's ball to get past him and Melky came home easily.

For the night the Angels had three errors, two of which directly led to runs, and a third mental mistake that led to another run. Kinda shocking for a team known for its sound play and lack of mistakes.

Offensively it wasn't a great night for the Yanks, but when you pitch as well as CC did tonight you don't need much offense. After completing eight brilliant innings Mariano Rivera came in to shut the door, and did so with a fairly easy inning. He did allowed a leadoff walk to Hunter, but then struck out Guerrero, got Rivera to fly out to right, and ended the game by getting Morales to fly out to center.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate tomorrow and the Yanks and Angels will be able to play game two of their series in the Bronx. First pitch is set for 7:57 p.m., and right-hander A.J. Burnett will face off against southpaw Joe Saunders of the Angels.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jeter, SS	5	1	2	1	0	1	3	.400
Damon, LF	5	2	2	0	0	0	2	.400
Gardner, CF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Teixeira, 1B	5	0	1	0	0	2	4	.200
Rodriguez, A, 3B	2	0	1	1	1	1	0	.500
Matsui, H, DH	3	0	2	2	1	0	2	.667
Posada, C	3	0	0	0	1	0	2	.000
Cano, 2B	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Swisher, RF	4	0	1	0	0	2	3	.250
Cabrera, Me, CF-LF	2	1	1	0	2	0	0	.500
Totals	32	4	10	4	5	6	16
BATTING 2B: Damon (1, Lackey), Matsui, H (1, Lackey). TB: Jeter 2; Damon 3; Teixeira; Rodriguez, A; Matsui, H 3; Swisher; Cabrera, Me. RBI: Rodriguez, A (1), Matsui, H 2 (2), Jeter (1). 2-out RBI: Matsui, H; Jeter. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Matsui, H; Jeter; Posada; Damon; Swisher 2; Teixeira. SF: Rodriguez, A. Team RISP: 3-for-12. Team LOB: 11.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Sabathia (W, 1-0)	8.0	4	1	1	1	7	0	1.13
Rivera, Ma (S, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0.00

Pitches-strikes: Sabathia 113-76, Rivera, Ma 17-11.

ANGELS STATS

PLAYER OF THE GAME: CC Sabathia (W, 8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K)

HONORABLE MENTION: Hideki Matsui (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB)

Game 2

Yankees vs. Angels
Game Time: 7:57 p.m. TV/Radio: FOX, WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (0-0, 1.50) vs. LHP Joe Saunders (---)