The Yanks need to build off of that win against the inexperienced Orioles in particular, because the thought of having to sweep the Yankees in the Bronx is not what the Orioles had in mind heading into this series. This makes tonight's game equally as important for New York because they would really have the upper hand, so here are a few keys for Game 2.
Andy Pettitte in the Playoffs
Pettitte has pitched his best games of his career during the postseason throughout his career. He holds the MLB record for most wins in the playoffs with 19 and tonight he will be looking to add to that record against the Orioles. If he can be the Pettitte of old, the Yankees will definitely have many chances to win.
This still will only be Pettitte's fourth start since returning from the disabled list with a broken ankle. Although he hasn't gone more than 6 innings in that span, that is all the Yanks will ask for tonight, especially with their entire bullpen on full rest after CC Sabathia's performance last night. Pettitte is 2-1 with a 1.62 ERA. (In the playoffs Pettitte is 19-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 42 starts)
Hits with Runners in Scoring Position
Neither team did a good job with players in scoring position last night. Aside from a 2-run single by Orioles right fielder and an RBI single by Mark Teixeira, no one else capitalized in big spots until the Yankees basically batted around in the 9th.
Timely hitting will be very key tonight, this is especially important for the Yanks because they are facing Wei-Yin Chen in his first career postseason start. If they can string a bunch of hits together in an inning, and hang a crooked number on the board, it will break Chen's confidence and Pettitte will have a nice cushion to work with.
Don't Run Yourself out of an Inning
Twice the Yankees killed themselves by bad mistakes on the base paths last night and that simply can't happen tonight. It is better to take what you can get early in the game and have faith in the guys behind you to knock you in.
In the first inning, after a beautiful opposite field RBI double by Yankees outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to get the team out to a 1-0 lead, Ichiro got thrown out trying to steal third early in Alex Rodriguez's at-bat. This essentially killed any chance of a rally, having nobody on and 1 out as opposed to no one out and a runner on second with Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, and Nick Swisher coming up.
Later in the 4th inning with runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out, Yanks first baseman Mark Teixeira hit a monstrous shot off the top of the right field wall. Teixeira had been advised not to exert himself on the base paths too much since he is fresh off a nagging calf injury. Instead of just taking a single and setting the team up with 1st and 3rd and 1 out, Teixeira tried to leg out a double instead and was thrown out by 3 steps.
If the Yanks can take what they get, and just pass the baton to the next hitter, then capitalize with runners in scoring position, they will win tonight. No mistakes on the base paths and timely hitting along with Pettitte on the mound in October is a formula for victory. Go Yanks!
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