Taking Care of Business: 2009 MLB Playoffs

ALDS
Yankees v. Twins
Game 3 Recap:

Yankees 4, Twins 1
Like so many times throughout this series a base running blunder cost the Twins dearly in their 4-1 loss to the Yankees. In Game 2, Carlos Gomez was easily picked off at second prior to Delmon Young touching homeplate negating what would have been the deciding run. Then on Sunday night, Nick Punto was caught diving back to third, killing Minnesota’s chances of tying the game at 2 in the eighth inning. The Yanks – who had already gotten a solo homerun from both Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada in the seventh inning – padded their lead with two more in the ninth, putting the game out of reach for Minnesota. The Magic, my friends, has finally left the Metrodome. Who’s ready for outdoor baseball in Minnesota? (Too early?)
WP: Andy Pettitte (1-0) LP: Carl Pavano (0-1) S: Mariano Rivera (1)
Yankees Win Series 3-0

Angels v. Red Sox
Game 3 Recap:

Angels 7, Red Sox 6
For a guy who had never given up a run in the postseason before, Jonathan Papelbon sure picked a terrible time to break his streak. With two outs and no one on, the Red Sox looked poised to extend their series to a game 4, but then the wheels fell off, and unlikely hero Vladimir Guerrero – who gone 13 games and 52 at-bats in the postseason without an RBI – came through with a single that drove in Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu for the Angels, allowing LA to pick up a sweep. It was about time the Angels were the ones holding the broom.
WP: Darren Oliver (1-0) LP: Jonathan Papelbon (0-1) S: Brian Fuentes (2)
Angels Win Series 3-0

Game 1 of ALCS – Yankees v. Angels – Friday, October 16th

NLDS
Phillies v. Rockies
Game 3 Recap:

Phillies 6, Rockies 5
By the time the first pitch was thrown in a bitterly cold Devner, this series was guaranteed to be the only one not to end in a sweep, with both teams splitting in Philadelphia. That just meant that both teams were going to get to enjoy the unseasonably cold weather for one extra day. The Phillies jumped out to an early lead thanks to a Chase Utley solo homerun in the first. But the Rockies came right back with two in the bottom of that inning, starting a see-saw battle that continued throughout the game until the ninth inning when Ryan Howard hit a sacrifice fly to left center which scored Jimmy Rollins and put the Phils ahead for good, 6-5. Brad Lidge came in to collect his first save of the postseason, giving some hope to a weak Philadelphia bullpen.
WP: Chad Durbin (1-0) LP: Huston Street (0-1) S: Brad Lidge (1)
Phillies Lead Series 2-1

Next Game: Monday, October 12 at 6:07 PM

Dodgers v. Cardinals
Game 3 Recap:

Dodgers 5, Cardinals 1
For a team that was heavily favored to represent the National League in the World Series going into the playoffs, they surely didn’t play like it. Whether it be defensive blunders or offensive woes, the Cardinals never showed their regular season dominance during their three game series against the Dodgers. LA got on the board early when Manny Ramirez doubled to left, scoring Matt Kemp. They added two more in the third off of an Andre Ethier two run homer and never looked back, topping St. Louis, 5-1.
WP: Vincente Padilla (1-0) LP: Joel Pineiro (0-1)
Dodgers Win Series 3-0

News&Notes: As many of you know, the Phillies and Rockies Game 3 was postponed on Saturday due to extreme cold and snow. Welcome to October in Denver!...Looks like the Phillies benefited from a blown call on Sunday. That’s becoming a bad pattern this postseason…Philadelphia reliever Scott Eyre left in the seventh inning with an ankle injury…Phillies left-hander Jamie Moyer was hospitalized with a blood infection. Moyer was not on the postseason roster after undergoing surgery to repair three torn muscles in his lower abdomen on October 2nd…After being swept by the Dodgers, Tony LaRussa’s future in St. Louis is uncertain…Joba Chamberlain was thisclose to being demoted to AAA. Proving once again the Yankees have no idea what the hell to do with him.

(Photos: Getty Images & AP)