Division Series - Day 1

The first day of the American League playoffs showed exactly why I did not want the Tampa Bay Rays to win the AL East. The Yankees went to Minnesota and beat a Twins team that they absolutely own, and Cliff Lee stymied the Rays as he gave up 1 run over 7 innings. I know it's only 1 game, so I could be overreacting, but honestly, I don't think I am. The Twins have never shown any ability to beat the Yankees when it matters most, and they are not going to this year either. Meanwhile, Cliff Lee is very capable of leading the Rangers to the upset over the Rays, who are the only team, besides Philadelphia, with a shot at actually beating the Yankees. And let's be honest, Philadelphia winning the World Series is no better than the Yankees doing so. So, with Halladay no-hitting the Reds, the Phillies appear ready to waltz right through the National League playoffs, and, honestly, it doesn't even matter who wins the Braves-Giants series. The Giants, with their aces, Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, will probably beat the Braves, and might take the Phillies to 6 games, but they won't beat Philadelphia because they can't hit. On the other side, the Yankees will do the same through the American League. Thankfully football season is underway and the hockey season will soon be starting so Met fans can have something else to watch besides the their crosstown rival vs another NL East rival. Honestly, why do I even bother to watch? I am ready to have a Mad Dog-like meltdown. Well, with that all said, here's a recap of the first day of the Division Series.

Game 1: Cincinnati Reds @ Philadelphia Phillies (Phillies lead series 1-0)

The big news from Day 1 of the Major League Baseball playoffs comes from Philadelphia where Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay threw the 2nd no-hitter in post-season history; Yankees hurler Don Larsen threw a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in game 5 of the 1956 World Series. Halladay's only blemish was a 2 out walk to Jay Bruce in the 5th inning. In addition to pitching phenomenally well, Halladay also had an RBI single in Philadelphia's 3-run 2nd inning; Halladay would also score in the inning on a Shane Victorino single to center. Halladay is the 5th pitcher in history to throw multiple no-hitters in the same season, and the first since Nolan Ryan in 1973; Halladay had thrown a perfect game earlier this season on May 29 against Florida. Edinson Volquez was not up to the task in game 1 as he allowed 4 runs, all of them earned, in 1.2 innings.

It does not get any easier for the Reds in game 2 as they will get Philadelphia's other Roy, Roy Oswalt, who is 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA since coming to the Phils at the trade deadline. The Reds will counter with the playoff tested Bronson Arroyo. While Arroyo is battle tested, he and the Reds just don't match up well against the Phillies. I'd expect Oswalt to keep the Phils rolling toward another appearance in the NLCS. Game 2 is Friday at 6 EST.

Game 1: Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays (Rangers lead series 1-0)

David Price was not sharp in game 1 for the Rays, who lost 5-1 to Cliff Lee and the Rangers. Price gave up 2 runs in the 2nd inning and then single runs in the 3rd through 5th innings. The good news for Tampa Bay is that Price gave them 6.2 innings, which should be able to keep the bullpen fresh for the Rays as the series goes on. Lee was dominant for the Rangers giving up 5 hits and striking out 10 while he gave up 1 run in 7 innings. Lee's only blemish was a leadoff home run to Ben Zobrist in the 7th inning. In game 2 tomorrow CJ Wilson will go for the Rangers and James Shields will pitch for Tampa.

Game 1: New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins (Yankees lead series 1-0)

The news was encouraging early on for the Yankee Haters when the Twins raced out to a 3-0 lead through 5 innings, and Twins starter Francisco Liriano looked to be outdueling Yankees ace CC Sabathia. However, that optimism was quelled in the 6th inning when the Yankees struck for 4 runs and they took their first lead on a Curtis Granderson 2-run triple. Hope was restored for a little while when CC Sabathia walked in the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the 6th. With one on in the 7th Mark Teixera homered down the line in right to put the Yankees up 6-4.

The Twins did threaten in the late innings, twice putting two runners on. In the 7th inning, putting runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs for slugger Jim Thome; however, David Robertson was able to get Thome swinging on a breaking ball in the dirt to end the inning. Against Kerry Wood in the 8th, they had runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out, but after a groundout to 2nd the Twins were left with 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs. Yankees manager Joe Girardi then brought in closer Mariano Rivera to face Denard Span, and Rivera got Span to ground out to shortstop Derek Jeter for the third out. Rivera then took care of the Twins in the 9th to preserve the 6-4 game 1 victory.

Andy Pettitte will pitch game 2 for the Yankees against the Twins and Carl Pavano. The Yankees got the road win they had to have in game 1, and can put the Twins in a huge hole with a victory in game 2. Pettitte is 10-5 all-time on the road in the post-season, but he has looked shaky since coming back from the disabled list in late September so which Pettitte shows up in game 2 will be pivotal.