Speaking of surprises….
Just in case Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize less than nine months into his presidency wasn’t a big enough surprise today, Yankees diva third baseman Alex Rodriguez gave us another one in the bottom of the ninth inning of the Yankees-Twins ALDS game tonight.
A-Rod, known for failing in big spots on the field and being a walking PR disaster off of it, actually got a very clutch hit tonight, belting a two-run, game-tying home run off of Twins’ closer Joe Nathan to force extra innings. The Yankees went on to win, 4-3, on Mark Teixeira’s walk-off solo shot in the 11th.
The Yankees take a 2-0 series lead to Minneapolis, where they can close down the Metrodome and advance to the ALCS with a win on Sunday.
As a friend of mine just said to me, what were the Vegas odds on one of these surprising events happening, let alone both on the same day?
Splat!
It wouldn’t have been surprising even if the Minnesota Twins hadn’t had to play a 12-inning, winner-take-all tiebreaker game less than 24 hours before just to get there. Since they did, their 7-2 loss to the Yankees last night in Game 1 of the ALDS was expected, at least by me.
Derek Jeter hit a two-run home run. C.C. Sabathia wasn’t great, but he was good enough in allowing only two runs in 6 2/3 innings. Even A-Rod, not exactly known for being clutch, got a pair of RBI hits.
JDB
Philly Phoughts 