ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers 6th-9th

I'm getting bored of this inning by inning blogging, especially since no one will ever read it anyway. I will make some updates on interesting plays, calls, commercials, or comments as the game goes on.

Hamilton hit one to the warning track but Andy got out of another inning striking out his 5th and keeping the Yanks in the game for atleast another half-inning. I don't see them getting any runs off of Lee. Hopefully they can work some more deep counts and get him out after the 7th or during the 8th.

ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers Bottom 5th

Cano leads off the fifth showing bunt. That's not very smart, he's too good.

Cano gets jammed. Too bad. Will we find a hit anywhere?

Thames can't hit a pitcher as good as Lee. His at-bats are just a waste. That's two quick outs and 8 Ks for Lee.

I suppose it is better to be lucky than good. Posada gets jammed and drops a base hit in short right field. Atleast they didn't get no-hit.

Granderson misses a great pitch to hit. He won't get another one like that. Needs to work the count. Grandy is making him work a little bit but all for naught as he swings at a ball in the dirt. 9 Ks and it does not look like it's getting any better.

ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers Top 5th

If there is any pitcher I would want the Yanks to rely on to keep this game close, it is Andy Pettitte. But they sure are asking a lot. Buckle down baby.

Franceour grounds out easily to Arod to start the inning.

It is unfortunate that television stations won't show when someone runs onto the field. I hope that Andy doesn't get out of rhythm here because of some dumbass who needs attention.

Two fly balls ends the inning making it another 1-2-3 for Pettitte. He is the battler of all battlers. You gotta love him.

ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers Bottom 4th

Top of the line-up for the Yanks, as if that means anything.

Bye-bye Derek. He isn't Mr. October anymore. Swing and miss high fastball out of the strike zone. This is getting really really bad. 6 strikeouts.

It is sad that I would describe that at-bat by Swisher as awesome, seeing that he struck out. But atleast he got 11 pitches out of it. 7 Ks now for Lee. Yikes!

Wow, Tex walks after going behind 1-2. There goes the perfect game. Make him pay Arod!

Arod hits a softish liner and Cruz makes a shoestring catch. Lee made a mistake there and the Yanks didn't make him pay. He is lucky the ball is still in the park. Struggles continue.

ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers Top 4th

Guerrero leads off the 4th. Pettitte needs to stay tough for the Yanks to even have a chance.

Guerrero goes down swinging.

They just showed a couple replays of the gardner slide and at worst he tied, which means safe, right ump? Guess not.

That Hamilton home run is looking more and more unfortunate. Pettitte strikes out his 4th of the night.

Another solid inning for Pettitte as he sits the Rangers down 1-2-3. Chances Yanks get a hit this inning? Not very high.

ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers Bottom 3rd

Posada, Granderson, Gardner. Let's get to work this inning.

Strikeout #4. Posada stares at a fastball. Embarrassing at-bats right now for the Yanks.

Strikeout #5, including 5 of the last 6. Is it possible the Yankees get no-hit. It looks that way so far. Embarrassment continues for this lineup.

I'd be interested to see a call go the Yankees way. Tie goes to runner? Not in this game as Gardner slides head first into first and looks to be safe. Yanks have yet to get a baserunner through 3 innings. This is rough to watch.

ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers Top 3rd

Diving play by Cano on a weak liner to second, and the lead off batter is retired. Big play.

Andy has lost the strike zone a bit but he is battling and the Rangers are bailing him out on a few pitches.

These Rangers hitters are working the counts deep early. Hopefully Andy doesn't get in too big a hole. Nice battle there between Pettitte and Andrus ends with another out to Cano.

Young swings at a fastball in his eyes to even the count at 2-2. He will fight off a few strikes before this at-bat ends, for sure. Awesome, infield single extends the inning for Hamilton. Andy is getting into too many deep counts. Another big at-bat. No mistakes.

Hamilton grounds out. On a fastball low and away. Do NOT throw him curveballs. The Yanks should have learned that by now.

Interesting side not: TBS started playing the "end-of-inning" music before the play was finished. Is Cano that good that they knew an error was an impossibility?

ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers Bottom 2nd

Arod leads off the inning. He really needs to step up. Robi Cano has held the lineup together thus far and needs some help the man in front of him.

Arod walks back in the dugout after staring at strike three. Things aren't looking good early. Nothing has changed.

Cano hits another one hard, but right at the shortstop. Two quick outs. This is going to be a long game. Well, a quick game, but a long one for Yankee fans.

Thames strikes out. Yanks will be hard pressed for a run tonight. Already confused and off balance.

I don't see them stringing any hits together. Andy will have to shut down the Rangers for the remainder of the game and hope the Yanks can knock a couple over the wall. Best hope: Cano hits 2.

ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers Top 2nd

Yankees enter the 2nd inning in a big hole. I would never say 2-runs is a big hole, especially with this lineup. But no one is stepping up and Lee is rock solid.

Sidenote: Commercial for Harry Potter 6. who's pumped? Aside from me, probably not too many ALCS viewers...

Two quick outs for Andy. A soft liner to left and a sharp ground out to third.

Andy gets his first strikeout to end the inning on a backdoor breaking ball that just hit the corner. It didn't look like the home-plate ump was giving that pitch in the first.

That was a big bounce back inning.

ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers Bottom 1st

Any chance the Yanks can retaliate in the first? I highly doubt it. The top of the lineup has been miserable. Crowd is quiet and Lee has a two run lead. He doesn't need that kind of help but the Yankees handed it to him.

Jeter has absolutely no power. Thought he hit that one good to right and it didn't even reach the warning track. One out.

That was easy, Not much to say except that the Yankees top hitters are pretty disappointing. Nothing new. 1-2-3 Inning for Lee.

ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers Top 1st

The Yankees starters have given up 12 runs in 8 innings in the first two games of this series. Andy needs to step up and get off to a good start in the first inning. 18 Postseason wins; he has been here before. Many, many times.

First Pitch: STRIKE

Petitte gets the first out on a dribbler down the third baseline. The veteran was quick off the mound and was able to throw out the semi-speedy Andrus.

This TBS K-zone is very suspect.

Typical Michael Young at-bat. Fighting off pitch after pitch to run the count full. What an at-bat by Young, singles to right. Looks like the strike zone isn't very big tonight. Atleast in that at-bat.

You would think the Yankees would learn not to throw hanging curve balls to Josh Hamilton. 2-0 already. Same story, different game. Too bad because petitte looks like he has good stuff. Depressing start in the Bronx. Wow.

Two quick outs ends the inning.

ALCS Game 3: Yankees vs. Rangers

Game 3 is always talked about as the make or break game in every 7-game playoff series, NBA, NHL, and MLB alike. It is going to be no different at Yankee Stadium tonight. After splitting the first two games of the series in Arlington, the teams move to the Bronx where they will be looking for big games from their "big game" pitchers.

This battle has gone under the radar, as even playoff baseball is overshadowed by NFL Sunday football. Andy Petitte is the winningest pitcher in playoff history. His opponent, Cliff Lee, may very well be the best Lefty baseball currently has to offer. Yankees fans and Rangers fans alike will undoubtedly be glued to their seats.

It's time for Arod and Texeira to break out the hot bats in what is sure to be a chilly night at The Stadium.