Bronx, NY (My Sportsbook) - After winning in thrilling fashion in the opener of this series on Tuesday, the
New York Yankees will attempt to take a commanding two- games-to-none lead this evening in their best-of-five American League Division Series against the Anaheim Angels.
Bernie Williams belted a three-run homer to cap a four-run eighth inning as the Yankees earned an 8-5 come-from-behind win in Game 1. Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and Rondell White also homered for the Yankees, who blew three leads before putting the game away in the eighth.
"It was probably a great thing for us to come back with two outs and nobody on," said Williams, who finished 2-for-4 and tied Jim Thome for third-place all-time with 17 postseason home runs. "I think it's going to set the tone for the whole series."
Steve Karsay notched the win with a scoreless inning of relief, while Mariano Rivera yielded a hit to Darin Erstad in the top of the ninth, but settled down to earn his 25th playoff save in 27 opportunities. Roger Clemens, who remained at 0-3 in six career Game 1 starts, gave up four runs over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision.
Troy Glaus slammed a pair of homers for the Angels, who are appearing in the postseason for the first time since 1986. Glaus' second homer of the evening came in the top of the eighth off Ramiro Mendoza and gave Anaheim a 5-4 lead.
"Even when Glaus hit the home run, you don't ever feel the wind getting taken out of your sails on this ballclub," said Giambi, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and three RBI in his first playoff game in pinstripes. "It's happened so many times for this team to come back.
"That's the kind of players this team has, they don't ever panic. They are just one swing away or just one at-bat away from getting that rally going and getting ourselves right back into this ball game."
Ben Weber was tagged with the loss after surrendering two runs in two-thirds of an inning. The righthander notched the first two outs of the eighth and had young Alfonso Soriano down in the count 0-2 before the wheels came off. Jarrod Washburn started for the Angels and yielded four runs on three homers in seven innings. He walked two and fanned a pair, while giving up six hits.
Kevin Appier (14-12, 3.92) takes the ball tonight for Mike Scioscia's crew. Appier did not fare well down the stretch during the regular season, dropping his final three decisions. He suffered the loss in his last trip to the mound on September 24 after giving up a pair of runs on seven hits over six frames against the Texas Rangers.
Coming into this series, the righthander was the only player on the Angels' active roster with playoff experience. Appier, as a member of the Oakland A's, appeared in two games of the 2000 AL Division Series versus the Yankees, going 0-1 with a 3.48 earned run average. This will be his second lifetime start in the postseason.
For his career, Appier is 8-8 versus New York. He battled the Bronx Bombers once during the regular season and was charged with the loss after permitting four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits in six frames. Away from home this year, the 34-year-old hurler was 8-4 with a 4.13 ERA in 14 tries.
Andy Pettitte (13-5, 3.27) counters for the defending American League champs. Pettitte was New York's best pitcher in the second half of the year, compiling an 11-2 mark with a pair of complete games and a scant 2.70 ERA in 14 starts.
The lefthander won his final five decisions and allowed more than two runs in an outing just once during that span. He last toed the hill on Friday, tossing five scoreless innings of three-hit ball in a win over the Baltimore Orioles. Pettitte pitched well at home this season, going 8-2 with three complete games and a 3.48 earned run average in 10 attempts.
In nine career Division Series starts, the 30-year-old hurler is 3-3 with a 4.26 ERA. He dropped his only ALDS outing a season ago, despite surrendering only one run on seven hits in 6 1/3 frames versus the A's. The setback dropped his career record in the postseason to 10-7.
Lifetime, Pettitte is 10-5 against Anaheim. He faced the Angels twice during the regular season and was 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA.
The Yankees won the regular-season series between these two teams by a 4-3 margin, including two victories in three attempts at home. On the road this year, Anaheim was 45-36. The Yankees, meanwhile, compiled a 52-28 home mark on the season.
Game 3 of this series takes place at Edison International Field on Friday. The Angels will send Ramon Ortiz (15-9, 3.77) to the bump, while the Yanks counter with Mike Mussina (18-10, 4.05).
