2008 ALCS Game 1 Recap

You just had a feeling this would happen when Alex Rodriguez jumped ship from New York after last seasons monstrous year. You just knew he would come back to bite New York right on the ass!

Rodriguez homered twice last night including a 3-run walk off shot off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth. Its the third time this season A-Rod has hit a walk off home run off the Yankees, and the second time Rivera has been victimized.

David Ortiz also homered for the Sox who took a 1-0 series lead with the 9-6 win.

Curt Schilling pitched 6 solid innings before the bullpen allowed the Yankees to take a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the eight when Ortiz and Rodriguez hit back to back shots.

J.D. Drew and Jason Varitek added singles in the inning but Boston left the bases loaded heading to the ninth with a 6-6 score.

Jonathan Papelbon struck out the side in the ninth. Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis singled around a Julio Lugo strikeout and Ortiz put one to the warning track to advance the runners to second and third with two outs.

Up came Rodriguez who nearly won the triple crown this season batting .376 with 58 home runs and 145 RBI. He took the first two pitches for strikes before sending the 0-2 pitch onto the Mass Turnpike for the game winner.

After the game Red Sox manager Terry Francona said that he was happy with the performance of the team and that he's glad A-Rod is in his dugout now.

Theo Epstein who was criticised for the Rodriguez signing showed plenty of smiles from the owners box throughout the game.

Boston won their second consecutive American League East title this season while the Yankees took home second place and the wild card.

Game two tonight promised to be another great game as the Yankees send Philip Hughes to the mound against CY Young hopeful Josh Beckett who went 24-6 this season with a 2.23 ERA. Hughes was an impressive 19-7 during his first full season in New York and is the favorite for Rookie of the Year.