Every baseball fan that has followed the 2009 postseason — especially the path of the Yankees — knows that one of the major story lines underpinning New York's push to a 27th World Series title has been A-Rod's road to redemption. And thus far, that story has been a positive one, with Alex morphing into a Reggie Jackson facsimile, batting .455 with two home runs and six RBIs against the Twins in the ALDS.

Most importantly they were clutch hits. First A-Rod led the Yanks to a romp of the Twins in Game 1 with a couple of RBIs. The next day he tied the game twice in Game 2 with an RBI single in the sixth and a two-run homer off closer Joe Nathan in the eighth. And for his finale Alex blasted an incredibly clutch, game-tying home run in the seventh inning of Game 3 that helped the Yankees break into the Minnesota bullpen, and ultimately put the series away for good. But even given all of Alex's uncharacteristic clutch work in the ALDS, this is starting to get ridiculous.

Saturday night's game was the kind of epic 13-inning battle that rips out the losing team's hearts. Playing deep into the night with cold rain pouring down upon the players in waves, the Yankees and Angels held deadlocked at 2-2 behind rugged starting performances by AJ Burnett and especially Anaheim hurler Joe Saunders. Forging into extra innings, the tension continued to build throughout the game as great pitching from both bullpens created exciting highs and inevitable lows for the two legions of fans, with both teams unable to break through despite ample opportunities.

It was the Angels who struck first in extra-inning play when Chone Figgins singled in Gary Matthews, Jr. in the top of the eleventh. It was a run on an increasingly cool, rainy, and late night, that may have defused a team with less tenacity. Even the New York faithful that braved the weather and their own fatigue showed signs of dejection.

Article Author: Anthony Tobis

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