The Rockies are on a major roll. Despite Manny Corpas being unable to close out Arizona in a wild ninth, Clint Hurdle’s ballclub still prevailed 3-2 in 11 innings to take the first two games of the NLCS in the Desert.

The difference was Colorado’s plate discipline in Jose Valverde’s second inning of work. After some tough luck on a Ryan Spilborghs roller for an infield hit, the Arizona closer who led the majors with 47 saves began to tire. He walked two batters to load the bases with two out and eventually lost the plate against Colorado’s Willy Taveras to force in the deciding run.

Only working his second frame for the second time all year, Valverde clearly was overthrowing which explained why he was falling behind batters and walked three. By the time the fateful Colorado 11th had concluded, he threw 42 pitches.

So, did Arizona skipper Bob Melvin screw up not getting someone ready earlier with not just the game on the line but maybe the series fate. No home team who’s dropped the first two on their field has ever comeback to win a championship series.

“Until he gives up a run, it’s his game,” the Diamondbacks manager told the AP later.

As for Valverde:

“I felt so good. I’m not tired. My arm felt good. That’s my first time throwing that many pitches.“

 

That just might explain the sudden loss of control.

You can understand Melvin wanting to go with his best in that situation but can someone explain why not one teammate including backstop Chris Snyder went out to settle Valverde down? Especially when he fell behind Taveras 2-0. The collective writing was on the wall.

When Colorado reliever Ryan Speier retired the side in order by getting rookie Chris Young looking for his first save of the season, the Diamondbacks were two games down with the next three shifting to Coors Field.

The Rockies have now won 19 of their last 20 games. An amazing run which wouldn’t have been possible without the following:
A.A ninth inning Todd Helton GW homer against the Dodgers

B.Brad Hawpe’s extra inning solo shot which sparked a three-game sweep of then WC leader San Diego.

C.Tony Gwynn, Jr’s two strike two out tying triple off Trevor Hoffman in a game Milwaukee won to keep the Rockies alive.

D.Kaz Matsui’s leadoff double off Hoffman which started a three-run rally in a lengthy extra inning WC play-in game with NL MVP candidate Matt Holliday tying it with a triple and getting part of his hand on the edge of the plate for Colorado’s second ever postseason berth.

Full credit goes to WFAN’s Chris “Mad Dog” Russo who cited all these unbelievable but true plays which allowed the Rockies to get to where they are now. The other half of the Mike and The Mad Dog program couldn’t have summed it up any better.

Colorado is only the second NL team in playoff history to win their first five games matching the 1976 Reds. Will it wind up a similar result and become the franchise’s first world championship?

Remains to be seen. But for now, you got to appreciate what this club has done. They’ve now won their last 10 road games and are feeling good about themselves:

“We’re playing with a lot of momentum,” Hurdle accurately assessed.

“We expect to win every game,” Spilborghs added. “To come out of here with two wins is pretty much what we expected.”

Do the Diamondbacks have any hope moving forward?

“We’ve come back from some difficult circumstances this year,” Melvin said. “It’s two games. A team has to win four before it’s over.”

Very true but his team will need a money performance from seasoned October vet Livan Hernandez when the series shifts to Denver tomorrow.

We’ll find out what kind of character Arizona has.

If you’ve actually tuned into tonight’s game on TBS after Game One made a bit of sad history becoming the lowest ever rated championship series game in MLB history, then you have had a chance to catch the kind of playoff ball that wins at this time of year.

The Yankees and Mets should take note. Don’t believe me? The underrated NY Daily News columnist Lisa Olson had a superb piece about why these much better managed lower payrolls are fighting for a chance at the World Series against either Boston or Cleveland.

In her Friday column entitled Yanks, Mets can learn plenty from NL playoff teams, Olson drives home the point about how the Diamondbacks and Rockies have been well put together with a strong emphasis on the draft and not the crazy kind of salaries and marquee players the two New York bitter Fall disappointments morphed into.

To highlight one part of it as Colorado setup man Brian Fuentes strands the tying runner at first by K-ing two and getting a grounder to potential NL ROY Troy Tulowitzki, here was one of our favorite paragraphs:

Each team was built through old-fashioned baseball values, aka good scouting, strong draft picks, patient player development and ownership that doesn’t freak through mediocre seasons. Each club features 14 homegrown players on its playoff roster. Arizona’s payroll is $52 million; Colorado’s is $54.4 million. Neither side has the money or the inclination to enroll in the A-Rod sweepstakes. Sensing a pattern yet?

For those fascinated over large payrolls like Olson’s pathetic colleague Mike Lupica who never understood the phrase “common sense,” that’s a grand total of $106.4 million between both senior circuit competitors looking to win the pennant.

If you’re a hardcore baseball fan who appreciates pitching and solid fundamental defense and hustle like that’s been on display in tonight’s game, then it’s easier to get what wins these series.

The diving catch by Colorado center fielder Wily Taveras who was activated for this series just might have helped his team get both games in the Desert with the next three designated for Coors Field. With Eric Byrnes on first with two outs, former Met and Yank (twisted irony here???) Tony Clark lined a bullet destined for the right field gap which would’ve scored the speedy Byrnes and tied it. Instead, Taveras went full body across to make a beautiful sliding catch to end the seventh.

A big time play. Aside from that, you want pitching? How about the three K’s in two scoreless Arizona setup man Tony Pena had to keep his team within a run? With Juan Cruz and Brandon Lyon also throwing perfect scoreless innings with a K each, that’s four scoreless in relief of starter Doug Davis who allowed two runs (ER) including Todd Helton’s go-ahead sac fly but showed guts working the first five.

The bullpen allowed the D-Backs to tie the game. It was a bizarre play as ex-Met Kaz Matsui tried to start a quick double play with the speedy Byrnes running down the first base line. Instead, his quick backhand flip pulled Tulowitzki off second and allowed rookie  Chris Young to score from third. Stephen Drew whose single to right center put runners on the corners didn’t realize he was safe and was tagged out off second.

It was a blown save for Manny Corpas- his first of the postseason. The young closer cameback to get Clark on a grounder to short to force extras with it tied at two.

Back to another excerpt in Olson’s article from 11-year veteran Colorado first baseman Helton who earlier tonight showed off the leather with a diving stop and flip to reliever Matt Herges for an out in the sixth.

A player who’s had a brilliant career in Denver who’s in his first postseason made a strong point about what it means to him:

“You learn to never take anything for granted,” Helton said. “I watch teams like the Mets, with all their talent and youth, and hope that they realize these chances don’t come along that often. I’ve been playing for like a zillion years and this is my first time in the playoffs. If you don’t treat every game like it’s special, like it could be your last game, you might not reach this point.“

He couldn’t be more right. To think that only a couple of years ago, the Yanks and Mets had a shot to acquire the slugger who’s a very good fielder as well. Think that would’ve solved one of each flawed NY clubs’ problems?

Ironically, the Red Sox who are the only big market club still afloat who spent heavily last offseason also nearly had a deal worked out for Helton last winter. Now, they could just be seeing each other in another week.

Amazing how things work out sometimes.

The game is in extras. It should go a long way to determining how this series could go as Arizona closer Jose Valverde just blew away Colorado NL MVP candidate Matt Holliday for the second out of the 10th. The fireballer is throwing gas. He’s fanned two. There’s a reason he led the majors with 47 saves. Just one reason the Diamondbacks are here.

We’ll see ya’ll later. Enjoy the conclusion of tonight’s game. If you missed it because you were busy sulking like the Lupicas of the world, too bad. You’ve missed the kind of baseball those Yankee teams which won four of five world championships once played.

That’s what wins in October as Valverde does his best Mariano Rivera impersonation and gets Helton looking to K the side.

Enjoy what’s left of the baseball playoffs. It will be a lesson to many depressed New Yorkers.

In what’s been an unpredictable season, the battle for the pennant in the senior circuit will be between two NL West rivals.

Both the Diamondbacks and Rockies weren’t expected to be here when the year began. Apparently, nobody informed them.

In what promises be a refreshing series between two younger teams, the baseball should be fun to watch.

Here’s how the NLCS competitors match up:

1B- Arizona platoons veteran switch hitter Tony Clark and Conor Jackson. During the regular season, they combined for 32 home runs and 111 runs batted in. In their NLDS sweep of the Cubs, they had just one hit and an RBI in 14 total at bats.
Colorado counters with accomplished 12-year veteran Todd Helton, who batted .320 with 17 homers and 91 RBI’s during the regular season. In his first postseason series, the 34 year-old out of Knoxville Tennessee had just a triple and run scored in 12 at bats.

Edge: Rockies

2B- The Diamondbacks start 32 year-old journeyman Augie Ojeda who made it back to the bigs for the first time since 2004. In 57 games, he hit .274 with a homer, two triples, 12 RBI’s and a .354 on-base percentage (OBP). Ojeda had a very good first round going 4-for-9 with a .545 OBP.

The Rockies have the reliable Kaz Matsui, who has become the catalyst for their offense out of the leadoff spot. After struggling in New York, the 31 year-old from Japan has found a home in Denver. Boasting a quick glove and solid speed, Matsui got into 104 games and finished at .288-4-37 adding 24 doubles and six triples while swiping 32 bases along with a .342 OBP. He was spectacular in a first round sweep of the Phillies going 5-for-12 with a dinger, two triples and club leading six knocked in to go with a .500 OBP and over 1,000 slugging.

Edge: Rockies

SS- Arizona uses second-year player Stephen Drew. After a disappointing first full season in which the former 2004 first round pick hit only .238 with 12 homers and 60 RBI’s while striking out 100 times, he stepped up and hammered the Cubs finishing 7-for-14 including four extra base hits (2 HR), four RBI’s and four runs. He can be a little shaky in the field making 17 errors during the season and one in the first round.

Colorado has NL Rookie of The Year candidate Troy Tulowitzki. The 22 year-old 2005 seventh overall selection who has been compared to Derek Jeter put up gaudy numbers (.291-24-99, 104 runs, 62 extra base hits) this season out of the two-hole. In 12 postseason at bats, he got just two hits including a home run while fanning five times. It didn’t affect him in the field where he displayed tremendous range along with a strong arm.

Edge: Rockies

3B- The Diamondbacks start Mark Reynolds at the hot corner. The 24 year-old rookie out of Kentucky had a nice debut season hitting .279 with 16 dingers and 62 RBI’s in 366 at bats. He was 2-for-10 with a homer, two runs and four K’s in the NLDS. In the field, the 2004 16th round pick did commit 11 errors during the season and one against the Cubs.

Garrett Atkins mans the hot corner for Colorado. The 27 year-old slugger is part of a potent Rockies’ lineup batting fifth. During the season, he hit .301 with 25 long balls and 111 knocked in. Against the Phillies, he was 3-for-13 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored. In the field, he’s a little shaky making 14 errors this season. Colorado skipper Clint Hurdle will usually bring in defensive replacement Jamey Carroll late in games.

Edge: Rockies

C- Chris Snyder is the starting backstop for the Diamondbacks. The 26 year-old former 2002 second round pick got into 111 games and set new career highs in homers (13) and RBI’s (47). He was 1-for-7 with a walk and two runs in the division series. Rookie Miguel Montero backs up. The 24 year-old Venezuelan hit 10 homers and drove in 37 in 214 at bats.

Yorvit Torrealba starts for the Rockies and calls a solid game. The 29 year-old out of Venezuela hit .255 with eight homers and 47 RBI’s in 113 games this season. He’s coming off a good first round in which the backstop was 5-for-10 with two walks, three RBI’s and three runs scored.

Edge: Diamondbacks

LF- Eric Byrnes is the sparkplug for the Diamondbacks’ offense. The often overlooked 31 year-old vet is the leader of this team. He plays a solid left field and also bats third. Ironically, the California native was a Rockie for a brief stint two years ago but struggled mightily hitting just .189 with 11 K’s in 15 games. Since, he’s found a home in Arizona. He followed a breakout 2006 with a .286 average, 59 extra base hits (21 HR, 8 triples) and a career high 50 stolen bases. In the NLDS, he was on base in all three games with three hits, a homer, three knocked in and a steal. If Arizona is to prevail, he must be involved.

The Rockies counter with their offensive leader and NL MVP candidate Matt Holliday. The 27 year-old out of Stillwater Oklahoma paced the senior circuit in hits (216), batting average (.340) and RBI’s (137). He also ranked fourth with 36 dingers and third with 120 runs.  His 50 doubles also led the league. Holliday also swiped 11 bases. In his first playoff series, he had three hits, two of which were out of the park in the last two games. If he gets hot, watch out.

Edge: Rockies

CF- If there is a clear advantage for the D-Backs offensively, it’s here with rookie Chris Young. While he isn’t getting as much recognition as Tulowitzki, Ryan Braun and Hunter Pence, the 24 year-old who was acquired from the White Sox last year for Javier Vazquez brings both power and speed to Arizona’s outfield. In his first full season, the Houston native hit 32 home runs, stole 27 bases and drove in 68 while scoring 85 runs in 148 games. He did bat just .237 and struck out 141. Young hit two dingers in 11 at bats in the NLDS, drove in four, stole a base and K’d 8 times.

The Rockies start Ryan Spilborghs. The 28 year-old out of Santa Barbara got into 97 games in his second year and hit .299 with 11 jacks, 51 RBI’s and a .363 OBP. He was 2-for-8 against the Phillies with three walks and scored a couple of runs. Cory Sullivan is the backup. In 140 ABs, he had two homers and 14 RBI’s. He was 1-for-2 off the bench in the first round.

Edge: Diamondbacks

RF- In the opening round, 2005 first overall selection Justin Upton got two of the three starts in right and reached base six times (3-for-5, 3 BB) scoring twice and driving in one. The 20 year-old younger brother of Tampa’s BJ Upton is still very raw. After his recall, Justin got 140 at bats and hit .221 with two homers, 11 RBI’s while striking out 37 times. He does possess good speed as his eight doubles and three triples attest. He also made five errors. Ex-Rockie Jeff Salazar got the other start. The 26 year-old former Colorado 2002 eighth rounder was hitless in three ABs. In 38 games for Arizona, he hit .277 with eight extra base hits and 10 knocked in.

Brad Hawpe just might be the forgotten man in that Rockie top six. A very productive hitter, the 28 year-old former LSU star continued to improve in his fourth season. He increased production in homers (29 in ‘07, 22 in ‘06) and RBI’s (116 in ‘07, 84 in ‘06). The 2000 11th round pick was 3-for-11 in the NLDS with a couple of walks plus a run. He didn’t drive in one run. He’s certainly due to find his swing in this series.

Edge: Rockies

SP- The Diamondbacks have to feel pretty good about being able to send ace Brandon Webb to the mound for Game One. The 28 year-old Ashland Kentucky native followed his 2006 Cy Young with a respectable 18-10 record and a 3.01 ERA plus 194 K’s in 236.1 IP. The workhorse was splendid in Game 1 of the NLDS going seven strong permitting just a run while K-ing nine Cubs. He’s clearly the best starter in this series and anchors a four-man rotation which includes southpaw Doug Davis (13-12, 4.25 ERA) battle tested Livan Hernandez (Game 3 WP, 6 IP, ER) and rookie Micah Owings (8-8, 4.30 ERA, 2 CG) who also is a double threat at the plate (.333-4-15, 12 XBH in 60 AB).

The Rockies don’t have many recognizable names in their staff but the best of the bunch is southpaw Jeff Francis who will take the ball in Game One Thursday night against Webb. In the first game of the previous round, the 26 year-old out of British Columbia already outdueled Philly ace Cole Hamels by working the first six allowing two solo homers for the Phils’ only runs while K-ing eight. The 2002 ninth overall selection established career highs in wins (17), IP (215.1) and K’s (165). He’ll try to stay away from the long ball (25 allowed) and keep his team in the games. Hard throwing Dominican Ubaldo Jimenez (4-4, 4.28) gets the Game 2 start and will try to duplicate his last performance against the D-Backs in which the 23 year-old permitted only a run in six-plus while fanning 10. Rookie Franklin Morales (3-2, 3.43) has just eight starts and has never faced Arizona. Aaron Cook (8-7, 4.12, 2 CG) gets the nod in Game Four.

Edge: Diamondbacks

RP- Bob Melvin has a solid pen featuring major league save leader Jose Valverde.The 28 year-old Dominican overpowered hitters (78 K’s in 64.1 IP) while saving a career best 47. He allowed just a .196 batting average against (BAA). Against the Cubs, he was very sharp pitching three scoreless final frames allowing just two baserunners while saving a game and fanning six. Vet Brandon Lyon (6-4, 2.68 ERA) and second-year reliever Tony Pena (85.1 IP, 63 H, 63 K’s) are the two setup men asked to get Valverde the ball. Each combined for five scoreless in Round 1. Arizona also has the well traveled Juan Cruz and vet closer Bob Wickman if needed.

On the other side, Hurdle doesn’t ask his starters to pitch as deep into games. If they can give him six, that’s about as good as it gets. He can mix and match with Ryan Speier, vets LaTroy Hawkins, Matt Herges and lefty specialist Jeremy Affeldt. Fifth starter Josh Fogg is also available for middle relief and worked two scoreless to notch a win in the NLDS. The objective is to get the ball to their 1-2 punch of setup man Brian Fuentes (61 IP, 56 K’s, 20 SV) and second-year closer Manny Corpas (4-2, 2.08, 19 SV) who saved all three games against Philadelphia without giving up a run.

Edge: Even

Intangibles: Both teams can use this to their advantage. The Rockies enter red hot having won 17 of their last 18 to get here. They have the feel of a team of destiny. When Jeff Baker is delivering a series clinching hit in the eighth in his first postseason at bat, it just might be your year.

The Diamondbacks were 10-8 against Colorado this year and have been disrespected by many due to their no-name roster. Sometimes, those are the kind of teams that win at this time of year. It’s not always star-filled rosters which win championships. Just ask the Yankees and Mets who are both on the golf course.

Managers: Both Melvin and Hurdle have done excellent jobs and could each be a Manager Of The Year candidate along with Philly’s Charlie Manuel. Each seems to know what buttons to push and is very in touch with game situations.

Edge: Even

Series Prediction: This could be a potential great series with many of the game’s young stars on display for the rest of the world to see. The Rockies clearly hold the edge at the plate but the Diamondbacks boast better pitching which is usually what wins at this time of year.

Diamondbacks in 6

With Game 4 about to begin, only a couple of changes to each lineup tonight in the Bronx.

The Yankees are starting Doug Mientkiewicz at first over Jason Giambi and the Indians are giving a start to catcher Kelly Shoppach while shifting Victor Martinez to first which means Ryan Garko is on the bench.

And already, the Indians are off to a quick start as Grady Sizemore leads off with a home run to right center off Chien-Ming Wang stunning the Stadium crowd.

Not the kind of beginning Joe Torre would like to see from his No.1 starter going on three days rest. If he runs into more trouble, expect Mike Mussina to be ready in what’s another do-or-die postseason game.

Already Wang has left two pitches up for two hits while retiring Asdrubal Cabrera on a grounder to first. His stuff must be down in order to be successful.

With Travis Hafner in scoring position with two out and Jhonny Peralta at the plate, TBS flashes an appropriate graphic in this series which has the Indians scoring 13 times with RISP as opposed to just one for the Yanks.

Peralta had a couple of hits last night and has had a good series. Wang goes full on him missing the outside corner with pest Kenny Lofton on deck. The Cleveland shortstop bloops one just over Robinson Cano’s head as the Indians once again take advantage for a big two out hit to put them on top 2-0.

You have to wonder if the Yanks can overcome another bad start such as this one. It’s obvious Eric Wedge’s club means business and wants to get this over with tonight.

Wang finally gets out of it by getting Lofton to bounce back to him.

Now his teammates will try to pick him up against Cleveland starter Paul Byrd, who won 15 games.

Yesterday, the Indians got a run in each of the first three before the Yanks stormed back with seven of their eight in the middle innings.

As Byrd gets Johnny Damon on a grounder to Peralta, TBS flashes a stat that he had the best record (9-3) after losses this year. So it won’t be easy for New York.

Derek Jeter who needs to get going takes Byrd’s first offering the other way for his second hit of the series. Bobby Abreu follows by getting enough of a tough inside pitch to punch it into right for the Yanks’ first rally bringing up Alex Rodriguez with runners on first and second one out.

It’s very important for the Yanks to respond here as A-Rod just misses a pitch down the middle to fall behind 0-2. Byrd gets him to chase through a high fastball for the second out. Only a few boos but mostly murmurs from a nervous home crowd as Jorge Posada comes up.

Posada fists one to short left but a hustling Lofton makes a sliding catch to prevent a run ending the threat.

Another frustrating inning in which the Yanks couldn’t get a runner home in scoring position with two out. The Indians have had good success (11-for-23) while the Bronx Bombers have bombed out. They’re now 0-for-7. That right there is the difference so far.

The Yanks will need Wang to be sharper. After Franklin Gutierrez leads off the second with a single, it’s apparent that he’s getting too many pitches up which could be a bad sign for the home team.

Casey Blake puts another hittable pitch into left and a few boos can be heard. Wang clearly doesn’t have it and must be replaced before the game is broken open. Already, Mussina is seen getting ready.

Now, the confused umpires can’t figure out if a Wang high sinker hit Shoppach who was trying to square. It looked like a bad call. Regardless, the bases are now loaded with nobody out with Wang in a world of trouble.

The TBS replays seem to indicate that it did get part of the hand and bat which wasn’t back. So wouldn’t that be a strike? In any event, big trouble here for the Yanks with Sizemore who already jacked one out up looking to inflict more damage.

Joe Torre already pulls Wang and it reminds us way too much about that awful conclusion to a historic collapse back in Game 7 of the ALCS against Boston three years ago. It was a dreadful Kevin Brown who the manager pulled in favor of Javier Vazquez, whose first pitch was deposited into the right field seats by then Red Sock Damon.

Ironically, Sizemore like Damon is the Indians’ leadoff center fielder. Can anyone say yikes as Moose warms up?

Mussina falls behind 2-1 but is able to induce a 4-6-3 double play allowing just one Indian to cross home plate as the Yanks fall behind three runs.

If he can get Cabrera here, this could have a whole different feel. The young Cleveland second baseman fouls off a couple of pitches and then takes a high curve into center for another big two out RBI for the Indians who now are up four. They’re now 12-for-24 in the series.

It’s hard to see the Yanks winning this. They’ll basically need Mussina to silence the Cleveland bats the rest of the way because their strong pen which includes Rafael Perez and Betancourt are rested.

You couldn’t draw up a more shocking start to this game. One which many including ourself felt the Yanks would win to force a deciding fifth game back at Jacobs Field Wednesday.

Mussina loses Travis Hafner to put runners on first and second with the dangerous Martinez up.

Chip Caray makes a valid point about how the Yankee pitchers haven’t been able to finish off Cleveland batters with two strikes. Can Moose get Martinez here?

Fans start a “Let’s Go Yankees” chant to encourage their team. It works as Mussina finally gets Martinez to ground out to Cano which ends another painful inning.

Final line on Wang who was knocked around this series:

1 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 32 pitches (20 strikes)

He’s definitely taken a hit here. How will the third-year pitcher comeback from this?

Now the plate ump somehow misses catcher’s interference from Shoppach on a Hideki Matsui foul ball. The DH hit the Indians’ glove. How is it possible to miss that when it’s right in front of you?

Now Byrd is protesting that Matsui stepped out while he was winding up. This umpire stinks. Fieldin Culbreth needs some med. Yes. That’s really his first name.

The count runs full and Matsui draws a leadoff walk and justifiably is on first. Funny how this game of baseball works out sometimes.

It’s only the third time Byrd has walked a leadoff hitter this year which speaks to how well he pitches.

One of Game Three’s heroes Cano steps in and gets into a favorable 2-1 count. Can the second baseman do something here? Apparently yes as he lines a sharp single up the middle to put the first two runners on.

It doesn’t look like the Yanks are bunting here with Melky Cabrera up. If you had Mientkiewicz hitting in this spot, it would be a good bet. Instead, he pops out harmlessly to short and slams his bat in frustration.

If the Yanks fail to capitalize here, this is a mistake in strategy. You don’t get all four runs back right away. It’s best to chip away. Bunt over and play small ball. Something Torre doesn’t do much of.

Mientkiewicz is quickly in a 1-2 hole. Some mist begins to fall. There was some rain forecast due to the humidity but nothing substantial as the first baseman fouls off another pitch. The count goes full and they got a break finally as Mientkiewicz went around on the check swing. Instead, the normally pitch to contact Byrd loses him to load the bases for Damon as the crowd stands and cheers.

This is a huge moment early here. Byrd gets Damon to pop up to Peralta for the second out.

Jeter comes up with an infield hit for the Yanks’ first run as the bases remain loaded with Abreu coming up. Jeter’s hit was odd because Blake made a nice dive to his right and the ball took a weird hop on him.

The Indians get a lefty Laffey warming up as Abreu takes strike one. He has hit six career grand slams and fared well in these situations hitting over .300.

The Yanks would settle for a base hit to get closer and give themselves momentum.

Instead, Abreu flies out to center as Byrd gets him on a tough pitch. The Cleveland starter has shown a lot of guts thus far in stranding five Yankee runners thru two.

The one good thing is a Yankee finally got a big two out hit with RISP. But they still trail 4-1 as Mussina starts the Cleveland third.

Peralta won’t offer at two close pitches and works a walk to start the inning. The Indians have been very disciplined tonight. Lofton flies to Cabrera.
Mussina gets Gutierrez looking on a nasty pitch down and on the outside corner for the first Indian K. He then follows up by blowing a fastball by Blake to strand a runner.

A-Rod draws more boos by K-ing on three pitches. He took a Byrd pitch right down the heart of the plate. That’s six pitches he’s seen and two K’s. Ugh.

Posada gets ahead 2-0 and then bangs one off the right field wall for a two-bagger. Matsui swings early but Martinez makes a nice play at first unassisted for the second out as Posada advances to third.

Can Cano deliver a big two out hit? Instead, he flies out to deep center stranding another runner. That’s six thru three frames.

Shoppach works Mussina full and then leads off the fourth with a ground rule double to left center. It just appears the Indians won’t chase any bad pitches. They are really putting together great at bats.

Mussina gets ahead of the dangerous Sizemore with a fastball painting the outside. This is a big out here for Moose cause he wants to prevent the runner from moving over. It goes full and Mussina misses outside to put runners on first and second with nobody out.

This could be it. Cabrera sacrifices them over into scoring position for Hafner with Martinez on deck.

Maybe if the Yanks had bunted in a similar spot earlier, they’d be closer. The Yanks have opted to intentionally pass over Hafner for the equally potent Martinez.

Seems like a dangerous strategy here loading the bases. They’re obviously looking for a ground ball to get out of this mess. Martinez is hitting just .100 (2-for-20) for his career against Moose. The count is 1-1. He fouls a pitch off to fall behind. The crowd is begging for a strikeout but a DP would be even better.

Martinez makes them pay by grounding one thru the hole between third and short for a huge two-run single to put Cleveland comfortably in front by five.

This one looks over. Especially when you consider how many runners the Yanks have left on base tonight already.

You have to give the Indians a ton of credit. They’ve come with a great approach.

Mussina then gets Peralta to ground into an inning ending 5-5-3 twin killing. As Caray notes, one batter too late. The damage has been done.

You just wonder if it does end tonight, will The Boss keep his promise and axe Torre? Who could replace the likeable 67 year-old who’s only gotten this team to this point every year since he took over for Buck Showalter winning four world titles in that span and six pennants.

How do you replace a guy like that? Even if we do second guess some of Torre’s decisions, who is out there that can do the job? Don Mattingly who has zero experience and is just there cause of his name? Joe Girardi who couldn’t get along with Florida management? How do you think he’d fare in New York?

Bobby Valentine? It would be hard to believe. The Yanks already have one guy who managed the Mets. Could it work again? Bobby loves Japan.

Bob Brenly who’s working tonight’s game seems to be enjoying doing color on these games along with working at Wrigley for the Cubs? Would his persona want to work here?

There really aren’t many options.

As for the game, the Yanks have Cabrera on first with one out and Damon up. He pops out to right. The Yankees just can’t seem to come up with the big hit against Byrd. They also hit into tough luck as Jeter lines one right to Blake to end the fourth. Five innings left to save their season.

We started cooking a pork chop with special marmalade sauce. Sorry for not updating sooner! But we got hungry.

I’ll tell ya. It’s hard to eat when you know your team probably has four innings left in what’s looking like another disappointing end to an October.

Nice to see A-Rod actually get a hit. But watching Matsui swing from the heels and hit another harmless pop just sums up why this team is looking like another colossal failure.

Their approach against Byrd has stunk. They certainly got enough baserunners on.

Mussina just exited with an out in the sixth to cheers. He did an admirable job giving up just two earned. But unfortunately, it looks like it will be in a bitter loss.

Hey. At least the Buffalo Bills are exposing Tony Romo on MNF. Four interceptions including two for TDs and it’s not even halftime yet. I warned my Cowboy buddy that his team was overrated. Go Bills!

Final line for Moose: 4.2 IP 2 ER 4 H 4 BB 3 K 74 pitches (41 strikes)

You have to ponder if maybe he should’ve gotten the call instead of Wang. Oh well. We’ll never know.

Ron Villone came in and got the final two outs of the sixth. Hafner flies out to left.

Can the Yanks mount a comeback?

Cano goes down and gets a Byrd pitch and belts his second dinger of the series to cut the deficit to four. How much longer will they stay with Byrd? Wedge wisely pulls him and brings in his vaunted pen.

As they show highlights played by even more Bon Jovi, this pork chop and marmalade just rocks. This could be one of our best on the Felix menu.

Did they have to interview Bon Jovi? Overdone much? Craig Sager is just doing his job but he looks a little out of place at a baseball stadium as opposed to basketball arena where the crazy sideline reporter can wear his off the wall jackets.

Wedge isn’t messing around here as Perez gets Melky to bounce out to third.

The Yanks send up Shelly Duncan to pinch hit for Mientkiewicz. The popular PH comes through with a single just out of the reach of Cabrera as cheers go up.

These fans are certainly doing their part in trying to rally their desperate club.

Damon now takes a ball. He then puts one just out of Martinez’ reach and Duncan goes to third. Runners at the corners for the Captain with one out.

Obviously, the situation speaks for itself.

The Indian pen comes through as Perez gets Jeter to hit into another crushing inning ending DP (4-6-3). The past two nights, he’s grounded into three of them. And can any Yankee fan recall the popular shortstop ever hitting into that many in his entire career when it mattered?

Talk about coming up small. It sums up how unclutch this team is in this series.

Apparently, the towel has been waved as Kyle Farn$worth has entered. It’s just as well.

The stunned crowd is silent. They’ve seen plenty of great moments at The House That Ruth Built. But lately, they’ve been witness to awful ones.

The aura appears gone. Will this franchise ever win another playoff round after that epic choke job against the Red Sahhhhxxx?

Maybe The Curse was really reversed and put on the Pinstripes.

I’ve gone on record as saying I’d rather miss the postseason than lose in the first round every year. It’s almost become a tease.

If Cleveland does get the final nine outs to wrap it, they’ll make their skipper look smart because he saved his best two pitchers. They’ll be able to have C.C. Sabathia start in Game One at Fenway and Fausto Carmona for Game Two.

Farnsworth holds the Indians striking out a pair including the final batter on a nasty slider.

Abreu-Rodriguez-Posada due up in the home seventh.

Perez gets Abreu on a nasty pitch down and away. Now Rodriguez comes up and Caray speculates if it’s his final at bat in a Yankee uniform.

It’s hard to just blame him for this. Not when Jeter has failed big time and Posada and Abreu haven’t driven in a run either. Matsui hasn’t exactly torn the cover off the ball either.

But can any Yankee fan actually support bringing the best player in the game back at a whopping $32 million-per-year? Even if he is the greatest player in the game, they haven’t won anything with him. The price will be astronomical due to the world’s most evil agent Scott Boras. Can’t he just go away?

His client’s asking price just increased because A-Rod finally broke his RBI playoff drought with a long solo blast to death valley to slice it to three.

It’s the closest they’ve been since the first. You almost get the impression that was his goodbye swing to the fans. “Hell-o Anaheim.”

Posada grounded out for the second out. Seven outs left.

Matsui puts together a good AB showing discipline by not going out of the zone to draw a two out walk bringing Cano to the plate.

This is probably Perez’ last batter.

Caray pointed out that the Rodriguez home run was the first earned run the Cleveland pen has allowed in 10+ innings.

Cano gets the count to 2-0.

If he does find a way on, Betancourt is warming for Duncan. But Brenly points out that Torre would counter with Jason Giambi. Moot point as Cano bounces out to first.

Six outs remaining.

You look at the boxscore and see the three runs on 11 hits while Cleveland has six on one fewer hit. It speaks volumes about this series.

Jose Veras comes on to pitch the eighth for the Yanks.

Random thought. Why does Tony Gwynn sound like he should be in a Western? Just saying.

Veras makes short work of Blake on three pitches. Shoppach narrowly misses a solo homer off the left center fence for a stand up double.

It looks like Torre is going to bring in Mariano Rivera for the final stand.

As he comes out, the knowledgable Yankee crowd salutes the popular manager with “Joe Torre, Joe Torre, Joe Torre,” chants.

They realize it could be the final time they see him in Pinstripes.

He has Veras intentionally walk Sizemore, then comes out to more salutes from the crowd and brings in the Sandman.

Mo gets Cabrera to bounce into a 4-6 force for the second out. He then has Hafner hit a tough chopper which a hustling Jeter dug out and threw accurately and in time to get the final out.

And yet again our favorite plate ump apparently missed another catcher’s interference as the Indians came out to argue and indeed, the replay indicated that Hafner’s bat barely made contact with Posada’s glove.

But Culbreth missed it. Great umpiring crew. They really have been befuddled. It’s how not to umpire. My Dad is appalled. He officiates and well I might add.

The Indians bring in Betancourt who has walked just nine in almost 80 innings this season while K-ing 80. What an amazing ratio.

Cabrera is down in the count 0-2. Melky hits it hard but right at Peralta who calmly fields it and throws just in time to get him.

Five outs to go.

Giambi now will pinch hit for Duncan. Man. What a diminished role he has now. I bet this isn’t what he signed up for or what the Yanks spent all those big bucks after 2001 for. Would anyone have believed he’d be without a ring broken down with a wasted contract?Fittingly, he whiffs.

Four outs left. Damon K’s to end the inning.

Three outs to go. And you could just see Mike Lupica with his A-Rod voodoo doll foaming at the mouth along with all the cruddy Mets fans whose team bit the dust in an epic collapse before October. Their time apparently didn’t come. But Lupica still foolishly believed that joke of a team with no chemistry could do something had they made it here. What is he smoking? We’d like some. I do have a Bob Marley t-shirt on. But come on.

It looks like a 73-39 finish and a 6-0 regular season record against this same team will go to waste unless a furious rally happens.

Brenly makes a very solid point that if Torre is indeed gone if his team falls short, they could not only lose the skipper but some players as well. Posada and Rivera have built close relationships with him and A-Rod has also taken to the manager after finishing last Fall batting eighth at Detroit.

This could be the final time Yankee fans see Rivera and Posada in a Yankee uniform. If you live and die with this team, take it in.

The first two Indians get broken bat seeing eye singles probably reminding Brenly of November 2001 in Arizona.

It’s tough to watch this but that’s baseball. Mo gets Lofton to hit into a 6-4 fielder’s choice as the crowd gasps.

The good news for the Yanks is that their staff will be much younger next year. Naysayers will no longer be able to point to the age of the arms for not coming through at this time of year. With Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes all future staples in the rotation along with Wang, the Bombers should have one of the deepest and youngest staffs in the majors.

The bigger question is who else will be in that dugout?

Rivera K’s Gutierrez swinging for the second Indian out with runners at the corners.

Another “Let’s Go Yankee” chant comes up from the crowd and then Damon flat out robs Blake of a certain bases clearing double which would’ve dashed any minor Bomber hope of a last inning comeback.

That kind of D from the leadoff hitter who shifted from center to left is why he should still be on this team as their left fielder next Spring. Matsui is a DH.

Now the middle of the order comes up against Joe Borowski who worked a scoreless frame last night pitching around a couple of walks.

Back in April, the same team cameback and scored six in a miraculous walkoff win with a grand slam from A-Rod.

Different time now. Here we go.

Jeter starts it off. His two hits may as well be meaningless because of the DP he grounded into to end the sixth. And the shortstop pops out to second and even he hears boos. It’s hard to blame them though. He’s been equally as responsible as any big hitter for this.

Now Abreu. He hammers a Borowski two strike pitch into the right field upper deck to slice the deficit to two. It’s the third solo shot of the night for the Yanks. And all you could think of is where was that when they had all those runners on base?

Now Rodriguez in what could just be his final at bat in Pinstripes. He swings through an outside Borowski offering to fall behind 0-2. Please A-Rod. Don’t strike out. The count goes to 1-2. He nearly is struck out but the Borowski pitch just misses the outside corner to even it up. He goes the other way and pops out to right for the second out. Chased a high fastball which would’ve been ball three.

The camera zooms in on a helpless Torre and then Rodriguez looks on quiet as Posada steps into the box in what might be his last AB as a Yankee as well.

And one of the most valuable Yankees in the last decade. The catcher misses another solo homer by 20 feet. It’s now 0-2. Instead, he strikes out swinging and that’s it.

The Indians storm onto the field to greet Borowski as a shocked crowd just sits in silence.

The camera shows Rodriguez sitting there watching. Officially a free agent. And it’s hard to call such a special player a loser in Yankee Pinstripes. But ever since that cruel series against Boston, it’s been nothing but sad faces this time of year for him, teammates and management.

What ashame. It looks like an era is over. And who knows what this team will look like next year. One thing is certain. There will be changes. You just wonder if they’ll be the right ones for a proud franchise which now can’t get it done in October.

Congrats to the Indians. They deserved this series badly. They wanted it and delivered with clutch hits and better pitching.

You have to give them credit. Most didn’t think they could wrap this ALDS on that field. But it’s officially become the field of heartbreak and heartache.

2003- Florida
2004- Boston
2007-Cleveland

It’s a series like this and those recent failures which makes us glad we cover the minor league A ball team out here in Staten Island. A bunch of hungry kids who want to win and blend well.

The encouraging news for Yankee fans is that there’s a lot of talent coming through the system. I really didn’t believe this team could get to the World Series as currently constituted. They didn’t have enough pitching and needed the hitters to come through. Instead, that never happened and they were victimized by a younger team whose approach was what these Bombers used to have in them.

And so it will be Indians-Sahhhxx in the ALCS. We’ll have our prediction along with Rockies-Diamondbacks tomorrow.

If it was Roger Clemens’ final outing of a brilliant Cooperstown 23-year career, it was indeed bittersweet as the 45 year-old Rocket was forced to exit early in the third inning due to a strained left hamstring with his team trailing Cleveland 2-0 in a win or go home Game 3 at a packed Stadium.

The Yankees are once again facing first round elimination for the third consecutive Fall. And that’s obviously not what George Steinbrenner paid for. Yet another opening round disappointment.

One thing you have to ponder is if Clemens’ hammy was so questionable, why did Joe Torre send him out there in the first place? Why not let rookie Phil Hughes get the start instead of watching helplessly as the manager tapped his hired gun after he reached back to strike out Victor Martinez before bringing in the 2004 first round pick?

It will most likely be asked by the press afterwards. Especially if they get swept.

They trail 3-1. The Indians got a two out first inning Ryan Garko RBI single to take advantage of a Derek Jeter miscue even if it was ruled a hit. A Trot Nixon solo shot an inning later gave The Tribe a two-run lead off an ailing Rocket who threw 59 pitches while allowing three runs on four hits, walking two while retiring only seven batters.

After Clemens was pulled, Hughes permitted a Jhonny Peralta two out seeing eye runscoring hit that dropped inside the right field line to put the Bronx Bombers down three.

The Yanks have already bounced into three double plays hurting their chances of mounting a comeback against former Yank Jake Westbrook. Speaking of The Captain, he’s failed badly so far in this game grounding into two including a third inning killer 5-4-3 which ended their best chance. Only one run came in on a Johnny Damon single thru the hole.

They desperately need to show better patience. It also wouldn’t kill Torre to play more aggressively and hit and run. One glaring example was when the overly scrutinized Alex Rodriguez got off the deck snapping an 0-for-19 in the postseason to leadoff the second with a sharp single to center. Instead of running him with the slow Jorge Posada at the plate, they watched as the catcher grounded into an easy 6-4-3 twin killing.

It’s happened all series and explains why the Yanks only have scored five total runs thus far compared to the Indians’ 17 with 12 coming in a Game 1 rout.

Hughes so far has looked good striking out a couple. With Westbrook getting plenty of ground balls, the 21 year-old from Dalton Georgia needs to continue to put up zeroes to give his desperate team a realistic opportunity.

It’s the Indian half of the fifth and Hughes is continuing to mix his pitches well and throw strikes. With Travis Hafner on first due to a Robinson Cano E4, the 6-5 220 pound righthander does the job and freezes Garko with 90+ MPH heat. In two and two thirds thus far, he’s allowed a hit while K-ing three.

Once considered the best pitching prospect in the game, he’s showing why by pitching with poise and keeping the crowd in it.

Can his team get any momentum?

TBS has done a solid job with their baseball coverage dwarfing ESPN’s but is anyone else sick of seeing Bon Jovi’s mug? Enough already!

It is a little weird hearing the Braves broadcaster Chip Caray calling a Yankee playoff game.

After Jason Giambi chases a sinker down and out of the zone to start the Bomber fifth, Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano get consecutive opposite field hits as the Yanks now have the tying runs in scoring position with Melky Cabrera up. According to Caray, it’s the first time they’ve strung together two straight hits. Sound surprising?

The 23 year-old centerfielder wisely takes the first two pitches and then serves one to the opposite field to score Matsui putting runners at the corners with the Yanks down only a run. Can Damon deliver here as Cleveland pitching coach Carl Willis comes out to settle down Westbrook?

Damon has the count 2-0 here. The left fielder gets a pitch up in the zone and hammers it into the right field seats to give the Yanks their first lead at 5-3. If ever there was a potential momentum changing swing or inning, this could be it as Yankee Stadium is electric.

The difference in this inning has been the Yanks’ patience. They’re not chasing the low sinkers and getting into favorable counts and making the Game 3 starter pay.

Westbrook comes back to get Jeter and Abreu but for the first time in the series, the Yanks put together a big frame scoring four. To put it in perspective, that’s just one fewer run than they had in the first 24 innings of the series.

Now they give Hughes a lead. Let’s see if the kid who is a big part of the rotation’s future can deliver.

So far, he hasn’t allowed a leadoff hit to Peralta to bother him coming back to get Kenny Lofton swinging for K No.4.

If he runs into any trouble, you could see Joba (Jaw-ba) Chamberlain.

Got to love that name even if it did take a hit due to freaking gnats!

It’s a full count on Nixon and the ex-Sock fouls it off. You get the feeling if Hughes loses him, this could be it.

Btw…this Steinbrenner statement stuff has to stop. Who cares?!?!?!?!?! Every freaking Yankee or baseball fan for that matter knows the deal if they lose this.

We don’t need to see it. It’s a waste. A good fastball by Hughes low and away pops out Nixon for the second out. Casey Blake almost ties it but Abreu has enough room to haul it in ending the Indians’ half of the sixth.

So far, Hughes has gone three and two thirds allowing two hits while striking out four and most importantly not allowing a run or walking a batter. He’s tossed 63 pitches with 43 for strikes. A good ratio. Could he give Torre one more or do they go to King Jawwwwwww–baaahhhh???

A-Rod leads off with an infield hit. Even if Peralta’s throw was in time, no way they get him as the third baseman pumped his fist which is always nice to see.

Westbrook is finally done.

Final line: 5 IP 5 ER 9 H 0 BB 1 K

Eric Wedge brings in Aaron Fultz. Posada greets him with a single to put the first two runners on first and second. This is a big chance for the Yanks to break this open. They can’t afford a DP.

And with that in mind, Torre sends in Doug Mientkiewicz to hit for Jason Giambi. He’s not just in for D but to sacrifice here. Something the first baseman’s done with some success unlike most of his teammates. And this is very big. The 2004 Red Sock best known for keeping the World Series winning ball does the job laying it down beautifully to put runners in scoring position.

Wedge opts to intentionally pass Matsui and go after Cano whose big double an inning prior was a turning point. They’re looking for two here.

It backfires big time as the second baseman who’s a better offensive player than Jose Reyes delivers a clutch two-run hit. The ball then gets by Nixon allowing Matsui to come around all the way from first to make it 8-3.

They give Cano only one RBI as they ruled that Nixon’s error allowed the other two to score. I would disagree. The second run probably comes in.

The Yanks strand Cano at third as Melky grounds out and Damon whiffs to end the inning but the damage is done as three more come in and the Yanks have now gotten the last eight after trailing 3-0 initially.

Do they let Hughes go out for the seventh? He certainly has changed this game after it was looking bleak early on. I would.

Instead, Torre brings in Joba to see if the 21 year-old who electrified the Bronx can redeem himself after a bizarre eighth in Game 2.

He K’s Grady Sizemore on a nasty change. Asdrubal Cabrera stands in. What a funky first name! Try saying it fast 10 times. He goes down on three pitches. Now it’s Hafner who loves the heater against Joba who can throw it 99-100. After going full on the Cleveland slugger, Joba wins the battle by popping him out to short right to finish off a 1-2-3 seventh.

If the Yanks win, Hughes clearly is the player of the game with Damon and Cano coming right behind. The kid did the job and is in line for his first postseason victory.

Cleveland reliever Jensen Lewis has come in throwing gas, fanning Jeter and Abreu to start the Yanks’ seventh. And then he blows away Alex Rodriguez on four pitches to top it off. Talk about impressive. The 23 year-old 2005 third round pick is the other big arm Wedge can bring out of his pen which features Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt.

If there’s an area which should be an Indians’ strength for years, it’s that pen.

Martinez leads off the Cleveland eight by getting on top of a 96 MPH Chamberlain fastball putting it past a sprawling Cano. Joba is trying to get through two innings here. He gets just what he needs as Caray turns into a profit mentioning that he needed a double play and on the next pitch gets just that as Garko bounces into a 6-4-3 DP.

Joba loses Peralta on a 3-2 fastball off the inside part of the plate. It’s the Yanks’ third walk of the night and first since Clemens back in the third. Jose Veras gets up in the pen as Ron Guidry talks to his young fireballer.

Ever the pest, Lofton takes a 1-1 pitch the opposite way to left to put runners on first and second with two out. Nixon is now up. He’s already hit one out. So if Chamberlain is tiring, he better be careful. Just to prove the point, he drives in one with an opposite field double.

It’s time for Torre to get Joba. Mariano Rivera quickly gets up. He’s definitely going to wind up in the game here.

Why he’s staying into pitch to Blake is beyond me? He luckily gets the dangerous Indian hitter to fly to the warning track in right to escape further damage.

You have to question Torre here because he still had a four-run lead and clearly, Joba was tiring. What about using him for tomorrow if we get to that point?

It looks like that’s out because instead, Chamberlain wound up throwing 38 pitches (23 strikes).

You have to figure that the plan for Game 4 is to go with Chien-Ming Wang on short rest and bring in a rested Mike Mussina in if the No.1 starter runs into trouble.

First, the Yanks need three more outs from Rivera.

Cleveland brings on veteran closer Joe Borowski in the ninth to get some work. He promptly puts Posada on first via a walk. If there is a weak link in that Tribe pen, it’s the vet closer.

The Indians’ pen is eerily similar to last year’s big AL Central World Series representative the Tigers. While Jim Leyland could bring in flame throwers Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya, he relied on vet Todd Jones to close games.

You have to say this for Matsui in this game as he comes to the plate and reaches base for the third time on another walk. For as bad as he looked with a balky knee the first couple of games, just seeing Godzilla bust it down the first base line for an infield hit and then following with his second hit to the opposite field shows how gritty the Japanese veteran is. Now reduced to a DH, he’s very important to this Yankee lineup.

The TBS crew of Caray, Bob Brenly and Tony Gwynn discuss the Yanks’ sudden turnaround with RISP. After having only one hit in their first 23 ABs, they are six-for-11 tonight. That’s a huge part of these postseason games.

Borowski works around the two walks by getting Cabrera to fly to left stranding both runners.

Now Rivera will be asked to get the final three outs to force a fourth game.

Mo gets Sizemore to pop to Damon in left. He then blows away Cabrera on high cheese. And then for good measure freezes Hafner by painting the outside corner with his trademark cutter.

The best aspect is that the electric Sandman only needed 10 pitches to take care of the Indians.

I have to echo what Caray said about Hughes. Damon might’ve been selected as Player of the Game but the Yanks don’t win without the rookie who was brilliant in picking up his first career postseason victory. He just might’ve saved their season.

Game 4 tomorrow as Boston, Arizona and Colorado await in the championship series.

Will Wedge have a change of heart and throw ace C.C. Sabathia on short rest? Or will Paul Byrd take the mound? As for Torre, it will either be Wang or Mussina. I’m going to say he pitches Wang who fares much better at home with Moose as his ace in the hole.

Editor’s Note: Torre later confirmed the plan as the 19-game winner will take the mound for Game 4. 

And so not all four first round series will be sweeps. TBS is happy and so are we.

See ya’ll tomorrow.

We’ve seen plenty of things happen in baseball but nothing like what took place last night in Cleveland. Could you really blame gnats for why Yankee rookie setup man Joba Chamberlain had a sudden loss of control in the eighth tossing two wild pitches which allowed Grady Sizemore to score the tying run?

Sadly, it definitely affected the normally cool kid from Nebraska who had mosquitoes draped all over him and lost his focus. After coming on for a brilliant Andy Pettite to get the final two batters of the seventh, he walked Sizemore on four pitches and threw a wild pitch.

Despite a loss of control, he was a batter away from getting out of it. But with Sizemore on third, another wild pitch would stunningly allow the speedy Indians’ leadoff hitter to slide in ahead of Joba’s tag and tie the game.

The Yanks were four outs away from squaring the series. With the kid struggling, did Joe Torre give any thought to bringing in Mariano Rivera? This wasn’t a normal situation. It called for the Yankee skipper to go for the jugular. Mo has been through plenty and later wasn’t affected in pitching two scoreless and getting out of a bases loaded jam in the 10th to keep his team alive before Travis Hafner’s game-winning bases loaded two out hit off Luis Vizcaino in the 11th for a crushing Cleveland 2-1 win.

Maybe Torre should’ve given the ball to Rivera because the former 2006 first round pick was clearly rattled by the bugs. They also might have needed a different bug spray because it didn’t help at all.

In a short series, the Bronx Bombers badly needed a split. Instead, now they must win three in a row. Only seven teams have comeback from 2-0 down in the Division Series. The 2001 Yankees did it against Oakland.

Boston was the last team to get out of this predicament back in 2003 coming back to beat the Angels.

If ever there was a fitting pic which summed up a frustrating night in which the Yanks got only a Melky Cabrera solo home run and two other hits off the brilliant Fausto Carmona and winning Cleveland reliever Rafael Perez, then it’s got to be this shot of certain three-time league MVP Alex Rodriguez above who struckout three times in four hitless at bats.

It’s hard to blame the Yankee third baseman for the lack of offense in Friday’s defeat. The Bombers had 19 ground outs against Carmona and couldn’t do anything with Perez in two innings. Of course, with A-Rod continuing to struggle in October, everything is magnified.

The Yanks didn’t get many opportunities to score against the Cleveland starter. But they did manage to have Bobby Abreu in scoring position in the ninth as Rodriguez battled the 23 year-old Dominican to a full count fouling off a few pitches before fanning for the third time.

He later admitted he chased ball four. If only his teammates could’ve picked him up.

Pettite certainly did his part pitching into the seventh and getting out of numerous jams with the usual guts and savvy kind of work you’d expect from the veteran southpaw who’s been here so often. He deserved to win but instead took a tough no-decision striking out five while not allowing a run in six and a third despite giving up two walks and seven hits on 92 pitches.

So, can the Yankees comeback when the series shifts to the Bronx tomorrow night? They’ll need the 45 year-old Rocket to come up large. This is what they paid him all the big bucks for. The pressure’s squarely on Roger Clemens to deliver a great outing. How will his body respond after a layoff? They’ll need at least six solid innings.

The offense clearly needs to get going against ex-Yank Jake Westbrook. Four runs in two games is why they’re in this predicament. It’s not just Rodriguez. Hideki Matsui has done zilch. Maybe Torre should consider benching him in favor of Jason Giambi. Or how about moving Robinson Cano up in the order?

We’re not suggesting anything drastic here. But hitting the second baseman sixth behind Jorge Posada might be a better option than the slumping Matsui.

If the offense gets going and they certainly should be pleased to see Westbrook and Paul Byrd if they get to Monday, they are very capable of getting this series back to Cleveland for a deciding fifth game.

They can either toss in the towel like the Mets at Shea last week or show the kind of fight they displayed the last three months.

We’re going to find out plenty in less than 24 hours.