Twins Vs. Yankees, ALDS Game 2: Curtis Granderson Adds Ninth Inning Insurance Run

When the Yankees are already on top 4-2 in the ninth inning with Mariano Rivera getting loose in the pen, one is free to wonder just how important scoring a fifth run really is, but the Yankees did it anyway. Facing Matt Capps, Brett Gardner led off with a single, moved to second on a grounder, stole third, and then scored on a bloop single by Curtis Granderson to make it a 5-2 game.

Mark Teixeira came up next and hit a towering fly to left field that came up just short of the wall, but there's no need to be greedy. The Yankees will turn a three-run lead over to Rivera, and Minnesota's odds are about as long as they get.