How To Lose The ALDS

Bottom 3rd, 1st and 2nd, 2 outs – Robinson Cano flies out to center field.

Bottom 4th, Bases loaded, 1 out – Russell Martin pops out to first base.
Bottom 4th, Bases loaded, 2 out – Brett Gardner fouled out to third base.

Bottom 7th, Bases loaded, 1 out – Alex Rodriguez struck out.
Bottom 7th, Bases loaded, 2 out – Nick Swisher struck out.

You can talk about whether Joe Girardi should have pinch hit for Martin all you want, but the Yankees had six opportunities to drive in a bunch of runs in a hurry, and all they got was a bases loaded walk. A-Rod is going to be fitted for goat horns again, but half the team made huge outs when the Yankees needed a hit.

You also have to give some serious credit to Doug Fister and Joaquin Benoit, who both threw some really good pitches when they had to. Benoit’s seventh inning change-ups, in particular, were just ridiculously nasty, and he threw some of his best pitches of the year when they counted most.