2010 American League Championship Series

2010 American League Championship Series
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season Texas Rangers (3) Ron Washington 90–72, GA: 9 New York Yankees (2) Joe Girardi 95–67, GB: 1
Dates	October 15–October 23
Umpires	Gerry Davis, Brian Gorman, Ángel Hernández, Fieldin Culbreth, Jim Reynolds and Tony Randazzo
Broadcast
Television	TBS
TV announcers	Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling and John Smoltz
Radio	ESPN
Radio announcers	Jon Miller and Joe Morgan
ALDS	Texas Rangers over Tampa Bay Rays (3–2) New York Yankees over Minnesota Twins (3–0)
ALCS

The 2010 American League Championship Series (ALCS) is the best-of-seven game series pitting the winners of the 2010 American League Division Series for the American League Championship. The American League wild card-winning New York Yankees will face the American League Western Division champions Texas Rangers. The winner will face the National League champion in the 2010 World Series. The series, the 41st in league history, is scheduled to begin on or around October 15 and run no later than October 23 (if all seven games are played). The Rangers have home field advantage in the series, as the wild-card team defers home field advantage in the LDS and LCS regardless of regular-season record.

The Rangers and Yankees have met in the postseason in each of the Rangers' three previous postseason appearances; the Yankees have won all previous meetings, 3–1 in the 1996 ALDS, and 3–0 in the 1998 and 1999 ALDS.

Summary

Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees

Texas leads the series, 3–1.

Game	Date	Score	Location	Time	Attendance
1	October 15	New York Yankees – 6, Texas Rangers – 5	Rangers Ballpark in Arlington	3:50	50,930
2	October 16	New York Yankees – 2, Texas Rangers – 7	Rangers Ballpark in Arlington	3:52	50,362
3	October 18	Texas Rangers – 8, New York Yankees – 0	Yankee Stadium	3:18	49,480
4	October 19	Texas Rangers – 10, New York Yankees – 3	Yankee Stadium	4:05	49,977
5	October 20	Texas Rangers @ New York Yankees	Yankee Stadium	-	-
6	October 22†	New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers	Rangers Ballpark in Arlington	-	-
7	October 23†	New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers	Rangers Ballpark in Arlington	-	-

†: If necessary.

Game summaries

Game 1

Friday, October 15, 2010 — 8:00 p.m. (EDT) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	0	6	10	1
Texas	3	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	5	6	1
WP: Dustin Moseley (1–0)   LP: Darren O'Day (0–1)   Sv: Mariano Rivera (1) Home runs: NYY: Robinson Canó (1) TEX: Josh Hamilton (1)

The Yankees quickly fell behind as the Rangers got to their ace, CC Sabathia. In the first inning Josh Hamilton cracked a three-run home run to put Texas out in front. Michael Young added two more runs in the fifth with a double. Rangers starter C. J. Wilson had gone for seven strong innings, allowing only a single earned run, a solo homer by Robinson Canó.

In the eighth inning, New York left fielder Brett Gardner reached base on an infield single to lead off the top of the inning and scored on a double by Derek Jeter. Darren Oliver relieved Wilson and allowed back-to-back walks to Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira to load the bases with nobody out for Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez hit a two-RBI single, reducing the deficit to 5–4. Robinson Canó tied the game with a single and Marcus Thames followed with a single of his own to give the Yankees a 6–5 lead.

That lead would be enough, as Kerry Wood shut down the Rangers in the eighth and in the ninth Mariano Rivera secured his 42nd postseason save.

Game 2

Saturday, October 16, 2010 — 4:00 p.m. (EDT) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	7	0
Texas	1	2	2	0	2	0	0	0	X	7	12	0
WP: Colby Lewis (1–0)   LP: Phil Hughes (0–1) Home runs: NYY: Robinson Canó (2) TEX: David Murphy (1)

Once again the Yankees starter, this time Phil Hughes, lasted only four innings. The Rangers' Elvis Andrus scored on a double steal in the bottom of the first inning. David Murphy's solo home run in the second and three straight two-out hits by Mitch Moreland, Elvis Andrus, and Michael Young made the score 3–0.

Nelson Cruz hit a lead-off double off the right field wall in the bottom of the third and advanced to third base on Ian Kinsler's sacrifice bunt. Murphy and Bengie Molina's consecutive doubles increased the lead to five.

Robinson Canó answered with a lead-off double off the center field wall in the top of the fourth. Canó advanced to third on a wild pitch. Colby Lewis struck out Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada, but surrendered a RBI single to Lance Berkman. Berkman's hard hit just passed first baseman Moreland's glove but Moreland recovered the ball and caught Berkman between first and second base.

Cruz hit another lead-off double in the bottom of the fifth and scored on Kinsler's RBI triple. Hughes was then relieved by Joba Chamberlain. Chamberlain struck out Murphy and Molina, but surrendered an RBI single to Moreland.

Canó hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning, but, despite having runners in scoring position the next three innings, the Yankees never scored again.

This was Rangers' first postseason home game win, and it also snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Yankees in postseason.

Game 3

Monday, October 18, 2010 — 8:00 p.m. (EDT) at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas	2	0	0	0	0		0	0	6	8	11	0
New York	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
WP: Cliff Lee (1–0)   LP: Andy Pettitte (0–1) Home runs: TEX: Josh Hamilton (2) NYY: None

Rangers ace Cliff Lee continued his postseason dominance as he pitched eight scoreless innings on 122 pitches, striking out thirteen while allowing only two hits and one walk. Josh Hamilton's two-run homer in the top of the first inning gave the Rangers an early lead which they never relinquished. After the Hamilton home run, Yankees starter Andy Pettitte and reliever Kerry Wood combined threw 7+2⁄3 scoreless innings.

The Rangers padded their lead in the top of the ninth inning, scoring six runs off three Yankees relievers. Rangers closer Neftali Feliz, entering the game in a non-save situation, pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth inning to preserve the shutout. The Yankees' offense was just 1-for-14 with RISP over the last two games. Derek Jeter's postseason streak of 21 consecutive games of getting on base, was stopped, as he went 0 for 4 and was not walked. First at-bat was a pop-fly, second, third and fourth at-bats, were strike-outs.

Game 4

Tuesday, October 19, 2010 — 8:00 p.m. (EDT) at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas	0	0	2	0	0	3	2	0	3	10	13	0
New York	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	7	0
WP: Derek Holland (1–0)   LP: A. J. Burnett (0–1) Home runs: TEX: Bengie Molina (1), Josh Hamilton 2 (4), Nelson Cruz (1) NYY: Robinson Canó (3)

The Yankees jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the second on a controversial solo home run from Robinson Canó. Canó hit the ball over the right field wall and right-field umpire Jim Reynolds ruled the ball a home run, but Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz argued that there was spectator interference. Television replays showed that the fans did not illegally interfere with the ball in play, but that a few fans did touch Cruz's glove while it was over the field of play. Instant replay review was not used and the call stood. Two batters later, Lance Berkman hit the ball deep to right field and was initially ruled a home run by Reynolds, but the umpires elected to use instant replay review and overturned the call to a foul ball; Berkman eventually struck out.

The Rangers took back the lead in the top of the third. David Murphy led off the inning with a walk and Bengie Molina was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt by Mitch Moreland followed by a RBI grounder from Elvis Andrus scored Murphy from third. Michael Young followed Andrus with an infield hit that drove in Molina.

In the bottom half of the third, Derek Jeter tripled and scored on a Curtis Granderson RBI single to tie the game at 2–2.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, and Canó and Berkman each singled to load the bases. Nick Swisher struck out, and Rangers starting pitcher Tommy Hunter was replaced by Derek Holland. Brett Gardner hit a hard RBI grounder to shortstop Elvis Andrus, who forced Canó out at third but allowed Rodriguez to score, giving the Yankees a one-run lead.

In the top of the sixth inning, Vladimir Guerrero singled, but was forced out at second on a Cruz grounder that resulted in Cruz safely reaching first. Cruz then tagged up to second on Ian Kinsler's fly out. David Murphy was then intentionally walked to get to Bengie Molina. On the first pitch of the at bat, Molina hit a three-run home run to left field, giving the Rangers a 5–3 lead.

The Rangers continued to pile onto their lead in the top of the seventh as Josh Hamilton hit a solo home run against Boone Logan. Guerrero then doubled, Cruz walked, and Kinsler hit a bloop single to right field to extend the lead to 7–3.

In the bottom of the eighth, Holland walked Granderson and was replaced with Darren O'Day. O'Day then walked Rodriguez and was replaced by Clay Rapada, who promptly walked Canó. Finally, Darren Oliver came in and got Swisher to pop up and Berkman to ground out.

In the top of the ninth, Hamilton hit another solo home run, this time off Yankees reliever Sergio Mitre. The homer tied the record for the most number of home runs in ALCS history. Guerrero followed up with an infield single. Cruz then homered to left to make the score 10–3.

In the bottom of the ninth, Gardner singled and took second base on defensive indifference. Posada grounded out allowing Gardner to advance to third base, Jeter flew out, and Granderson lined out to Moreland, stranding Gardner at third base, and ending the game with a 10–3 score.

The Canó home run has been compared to the Jeffrey Maier play, according to many analysts. When asked about the Canó controversy, Maier replied, "it was pretty funny."

Game 5

Wednesday, October 20, 2010 — 4:00 p.m. (EDT) at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	12	1
New York	0	3	2	0	1	0	0	1	-	7	9	0
Starting pitchers: TEX: C. J. Wilson (0–0) NYY: CC Sabathia (0–0) Home runs: TEX: Matt Treanor (1) NYY: Nick Swisher (1), Robinson Canó (4), Curtis Granderson (1)

Yankees struck in the second inning as Alex Rodriguez walked. Marcus Thames popped out, then Lance Berkman walked. Jorge Posada then hit a RBI-single for the first run of the game. Curtis Granderson followed with a single of his own, driving in another. Jeff Francoeur's error scored another, making the score 3-0.

Yankees got two more runs as Nick Swisher and Robinson Canó hit back-to-back homers, extending the lead to five. Cano's homer was his fourth in the series. The homer also tied the record for the number of home runs in ALCS history.

CC Sabathia gave up his first run in the fifth inning as Matt Treanor homered.

Yankees responded in the bottom of the same inning as Swisher walked and Cano lined out. Rodriguez then hit a double, followed Berkman's sacrifice fly out.

In the next inning, Vladimir Guerrero struck out. David Murphy, Ian Kinsler, and Francoeur all singled. Treanor's grounder to third brought in a run, but Sabathia struck out Moreland to end the inning with runners on second and third.

Game 6

Friday, October 22, 2010 — 8:00 p.m. (EDT) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Texas	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Starting pitchers: NYY: Phil Hughes (0–1) TEX: Colby Lewis (1–0)

Game 7 (If necessary)

Saturday, October 23, 2010 — 8:00 p.m. (EDT) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Texas	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Starting pitchers: NYY: Andy Pettitte (0–1) TEX: Cliff Lee (1–0)

Broadcasting

TBS will carry all games with Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling and John Smoltz in the broadcast booth. For international viewers, MLB International will broadcast all games, with the broadcast team of Gary Thorne and Rick Sutcliffe announcing.

External links

• Probable Pitchers | texasrangers.com: News
• 2010 Postseason | MLB.com: Schedule
• 2010 ALCS at Baseball-Reference
• 2010 ALCS at ESPN