The series between the historical rivals played out like a Hollywood script. Two of the most beloved Yankees in history facing their old team for the first time together. A brutal pitchers duel in the first game won by a mammoth home run smashed by Rodriguez; a player who very apparently had a poignant point to make going into the series against his former manger.
Then there was the solid win by the Yankees' old coaching master in the second game of the series, as the teams slugged it out like it was 1955 with the Dodgers hammering home their one victory of the series, erupting for nine runs to crush the Yanks and A.J. Burnett by a 5 run margin.
And finally there were the extra-inning dramatics of Sunday night, culminating with Cano's Bronx Bomb to secure the series and provide yet another reminder that the ethos originally installed by the current Dodgers' manager has returned to New York in the form of his protege.
In the end, the finale was pure Yankee poetry. The new crop of youngster tying the game, pulling the team from the throes of defeat. Cano furthered his ascension into the Yankees universal stratosphere by ripping a Ruthian blast the opposite way (to left center) off left-hander George Sherrill (his first hit in 12 at bats against the former Baltimore closer).
And Rivera with another two innings of scoreless baseball (lowering his era to 0.92 and his WHIP to 0.61), finalizing the win and reminding the baseball world once again that while Thigpens, Broxtons and Papelbons come and go, Mariano Rivera operates on another plane of existence.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Unreal game on Sunday night. Completely confused when Andy Pettitte forgot how to field bunts. Clearly a four-run lead is never safe.
2 - Tony
For such a good defensive team, there was some sloppy fieling by the Yankees. I even had them written off Sunday, but it definately got crazy.