The Yankees who had overcome a much of a potential vulnerability to make it to October ran out of time and luck once again after becoming first-round playoff victims, falling 6-4 to the Cleveland Indians at the American League Division Series.
The Indians chased New York’s 19-game winner Wang from the contest in the second inning and backed starter Paul Byrd with six early runs on their way to claiming the best of five Divisional Series by a 3-1 margin. Jhonny Peralta had three hits and drove in a run, Victor Martinez with two hits and two runs batted in and the lead-off man Grady Sizemore stroked a homer to pace the 13-hit attack.
The defeat also marks the third year in a row that the Yankees have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs and could mean an end of Joe Torre era after 12 playoff appearances in 12 seasons.
Given a win or quit ultimatum by club owner George Steinbrenner, who said:
I think we’re paying him a lot of money. He’s the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don’t think we’d take him back if we don’t win this series.
Boston, advancing with a three-game sweep over the Los Angeles, Angels will however host the Indians in the opener of the best of seven ALCS on Friday.
Via: Bloomberg
