The Phillies will have to wait to see who they will face off against in the 2009 World Series, as the Angels recovered from a two run deficit to beat the Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 on Thursday in Anaheim.
It’s was a comeback of epic proportions as the Angels put together a game-winning rally in the bottom of the seventh to extend the AL Championship Series to a sixth game tonight in New York.
Trailing 6-4, Bobby Abreu drove in one run with a groundout, while Vladimir Guerrero swatted in the tying run and Kendry Morales knocked in what would eventually be the game-winner.
Angles Catcher Jeff Mathis started the rally with a single. Mathis set a postseason club record with six consecutive at-bats with hits, in Games 2, 3 and 5.
LHP John Lackey shut out the Yankees for six innings before being pulled in the seventh with bases loaded. The Yankees scored six times in the remainder of the inning to take a 6-4 lead.
The Angels will go with LHP Joe Saunders tonight on the mound. Saunders is 2-1 with a 6.28 ERA in five career starts against New York. He is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in one regular season start, with a no-decision in the 2099 postseason.
New York’s Andy Pettite will be looking for his first playoff win as he gets the call in Game 6 for the Yankees. Pettite’s last appearance on Oct 17 resulted in a 5-4 loss against Anaheim. He has gone 12-10 in 28 starts against the Halos with a 4.70 ERA.
The odds makers have the Yankees at –1½ favorites in Game 6 with a total of 9.
The Angles will hope to extend their Game 5 rally into tonight’s ballgame, as the Yankees try and crush Anaheim’s World Series dreams.
Matt Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
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