The American and National League
Division Series are in their 21st season, having begun in 1995. Here
is a list of my favourite five memorable moments from the ALDS. They are in
chronological order. It was too difficult to rank them because all are amazing.
Enjoy.
October 8, 1995: New
York Yankees vs Seattle Mariners, Game 5
After
losing the first two games in the Bronx, Seattle tied the series to set up the
dramatic fifth game. Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth, the Mariners
tied the game at four, but fell behind again, 5-4, in the top of the eleventh.
With Jack McDowell on the mound
for the Yanks, Seattle second baseman Joey Cora led off the inning with a
single. Centre fielder, Ken Griffey Jr followed with another single. That set
the stage for designated hitter, Edgar Martinez, who doubled down the left
field line. Cora scored easily and Griffey raced around the bases and slid into
home to beat the throw to give Seattle a 6-5 win; a come from behind victory in
the game and the series.
October 13, 2001: New
York Yankees vs Oakland Athletics, Game 3
This game will forever be known
as “The Flip” and was another display of the magnificent talent and baseball
genius of Yankee shortstop, Derek Jeter.
Oakland led in the series two
games to none after winning both games to start the series in the Bronx. They
had all the momentum as they played Game 3 at home. That all changed in the
bottom of the seventh. With the Yankees leading 1-0, Oakland threatened to tie
the game when, with two out, Jeremy Giambi singled. This was followed by a Terrence Long double down the right field line. Yankee right fielder, Shane Spencer,
overthrew both cut off men and it appeared that Giambi was going to tie the
game as the ball was off line as it came towards home plate.
However, Jeter raced over,
grabbed the ball and, in the same motion, shoveled to catcher Jorge Posada who
tagged the surprised Giambi who didn’t even slide, thinking he would score
easily.
The Yankees won the game 1-0,
won the next two to take the series, and then would defeat Seattle four games to one
in the ALCS. However, they would lose a heartbreaking Game 7 to the Arizona
Diamondbacks in the World Series.
October 8, 2004:
Anaheim Angels vs Boston Red Sox, Game 3
The
wild card Red Sox had easily won the first two games of the series in Anaheim
by scores of 9-3 and 8-3. They had a 6-1 lead in the third game in Fenway Park,
but saw it evaporate when the Angels scored five runs in the top of the
seventh.
In the bottom of the tenth,
Johnny Damon led off for Boston with a single. After a force play at second and
a strike out, DH David Ortiz came to bat for the Red Sox, facing Angel pitcher
Jarrod Washburn. Ortiz slammed a home run into the centre field seats giving
Boston an 8-6 win and a sweep in the series.
Boston would go on to win the
ALCS against the Yankees in seven games (after trailing 3 games to none) and
sweep the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first World Championship since 1918.
October 6, 2006: New
York Yankees vs Detroit Tigers, Game 3
The Yankees were heavily
favoured to beat the Wild Card Tigers in this series, but Detroit managed to
get a split of the first two games in New York. For Game 3, they had 41-year
old lefthander Kenny Rogers on the mound. Although he had posted a 17-8 record
with a 3.84 ERA in 2006, Rogers had a horrible post-season history (0-3 and a
8.85 ERA). However, in this start against the Yanks, he pitched 7 2/3 scoreless
innings, allowed only five hits and struck out eight, as the Tigers won the
game 6-0. The following afternoon, the Tigers would complete the upset with an
8-3 victory.
The Tigers would sweep the
Oakland Athletics in the ALCS (Rogers won Game 3, pitching 7 1/3 scoreless
innings, allowing two hits and striking out six), but fall short in the World
Series, losing to the Cardinals in five games. However, Rogers was the winner
in the only Tiger victory, pitching eight scoreless innings and striking out
five while allowing only two hits.
For a pitcher who had struggled so much before in the post-season, Rogers was 3-0 and allowed no runs and
struck out 19 in 23 innings pitched.
October 5, 2007: New
York Yankees vs Cleveland Indians, Game 2
The Cleveland Indians defeated
the Yankees in four games to advance to the ALCS, and while Game 2 was
significant because the Tribe came from behind to tie the game in the eighth
and then win in walk-off style in the eleventh. However, this game is best remembered
for being “The Bug Game.”
Late in the game, a swarm of
tiny insects circled the mound, causing a big distraction for Yankee pitcher,
Joba Chamberlain, who allowed two walks and threw two wild pitches which led to
the tying run for the Indians. Play was stopped for a time to attempt to accommodate
the players, particularly Chamberlain who was obviously thrown off his game.
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