Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Jerry Hairston Jr. scored on Maicer Izturis's throwing error in the bottom of the 13th, giving the Yankees a 4-3 win over the Angels and a commanding lead in the American League Championship Series.
A-Rod Ties Game With Homer in 9th, Yanks Win Marathon on Error in 14th
The victory gave New York a 2-0 lead in the series, which continues Monday in Anaheim with Game 3.
Saturday’s matchup could have gone either way, as each team had a number of scoring opportunities in the late innings and left numerous runners on base. The Angels stranded 16, while the Yankees left 12 on the basepaths. But in a wet, cold marathon game that lasted over five hours, New York came out on top.
Ervin Santana (0-1), who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the 12th, was on the mound for the Angels to begin the 13th. Hairston came up as a pinch-hitter and roped a single into left-center, then moved to second on Brett Gardner's sacrifice bunt.
Santana intentionally walked Robinson Cano to get to Melky Cabrera, who hit a grounder to second. Izturis ranged to hit left and had a chance to go for the routine out at first. However, he somewhat inexplicably chose to try for a force out at second, but sailed the throw well wide of the bag, and Hairston raced home to score the game-winning run for a Yankees team that is well used to thrilling wins.
New York recorded 15 walk-off victories during the regular season, and had another one in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Twins. In that contest, Alex Rodriguez hit a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning before Mark Teixeira's homer won it in the 11th.
Rodriguez provided a similar moment Saturday, as he smacked an opposite-field solo homer in the bottom of the 11th to even the contest, after Chone Figgins' RBI single in the top half put the Angels in front.
David Robertson (2-0) got the win for throwing 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings, while Derek Jeter also homered for the Yankees, who took the victory despite committing three errors. They took advantage of three Angels errors to win Game 1 of this ALCS on Friday.
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