Yanks lose game 4, Teixeira, all hope?

Going into last night's game, the Yankees were clinging onto hope and a prayer. Now, it looks like they may very well need a hope in a prayer to win this series. With Mark Teixeira ruled out for the rest of the playoffs and Cliff Lee looming, their chances may be slim to none and slim just left the building.

All of the madness that jam-packed last night's game began in the bottom of the second inning when it appeared that the second coming of Jeffrey Maier made an appearance.

Robby Cano sent this Tommy Hunter delivery over the right field wall, but this Arte Lange reject literally took his hand and pushed Nelson Cruz's glove down. Why wasn't this play reviewed?! Isn't this why we have instant replay? Two batters later, Lance Berkman sent a blast about a half an inch to the right of the foul pole that was called a HR. The umps got this one right, however, and the call was reversed. The Yanks were absolutely pounding Tommy Hunter pitches last night. End of 2, 1-0 Yanks.

Not enough madness for you? Good, because were just getting started.

The top of the 3rd inning I cannot blame on A.J Burnett, the only big mistake he made came in the top of the 6th, but we'll get to that one later. The Rangers tied it up after Andrus grounded out to Tex; who saved another run from scoring with a nice play at first. With 2 outs now, Michael Young hits a weak grounder to short that A-Rod couldn't get out of his glove. Instead of getting out of the inning, the Rangers take a 2-1 lead and A-Rod runs to watch a Tom Emansky video. Fortunately for him, this blunder wouldn't cost them the game.

Then the real insanity began...

The Yanks ran Tommy Hunter out of the game and regained the lead going into the top of the 5th. It was at that time that Grim LeRogue thought it was a great idea to personally let A-Rod know that he's not happy about A-Rod doing the deed with Cameron Diaz. Later top 5, we almost had a New York version of Steve Bartman as a fan interfered with was would have been the 3rd out of the inning. Young walks and the fan is seeing his life flash before his eyes Luckily for his life, Hamilton flew out and the inning was over. Did we really just re-live two of baseball's most infamous moments within 5 innings of this game?

Then the beginning of the end occurred.

Tex is a true gamer and gives it his all on every play. Trying to beat out a groundball, Tex felt a pop in his hammy and now the Yanks will have to play the rest of the way without him. Fortunately for them, they can bring Berkman off the bench to play 1st. For all you Berkman haters, my apologies that he's only 5th all-time in Home Runs for a switch hitter with 327. Cry me a river.

Then the big blow happened.

A.J Burnett threw one pitch that summed up his entire season. Cervelli was set up on the outside corner and A.J left a fat slider over the plate that Bengie Molina turned on and put over the wall for a 3-run shot. Goodbye baseball and goodbye game 4. The place was silent after that.

The Yanks sent Robertson out there in the 7th, he promptly got 2 outs and then Girardi pulled him for the lefty, Logan who proceded to serve up a bomb special to Josh Hamilton. Good god he's good. Good call, Joe

Time to stretch, Roman Tynan couldn't have helped them at this point.

Bottom 7. Derek Holland comes out and completes a solid 3 2/3 innings pitched. Yankee fans may think he was all over the place, but he only allowed one hit. Sounds like a good outing to me.

Top 9. 7-3 Rangers. At this point, Joe Girardi is devastated after realizing that he won't get the Cubs managing job so he throws out Sergio Mitre for the 9th; essentially waving the white flag.

Cue the Natural.

Hamilton blasts his 2nd HR of the game (4th of the ALCS). Vlady hits a single and then Nelson Cruz hits a 2-run bomb to deep left. 10-3 Rangers. Nolan Ryan is beyond giddy in the front row as Yankee fans couldn't get to the subway fast enough.

In today's afternoon matinee, C.C gets the nod.

C.C is by far the perfect man to get the ball for

today's game and perhaps he can give them a much needed shot in the arm. Although I hardly see the Yankees going down in 5 games, the team that won last night's game was going to win this series.

There will be a new champion this year.

kudos to nydailynews.com for the great photos!

Road To The Ship Day 1: Mr. Doc-Tober!

I hope everyone had the opportunity to tune into TBS last night around 7:30 last night, because what you witnessed is something that we see once in a lifetime.

A no-hitter hasn't been pitched in the postseason since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Even if Doc Halladay wasn't "perfect" last night, he couldn't have looked more in the zone in his 1st ever postseason start. Halladay scattered 104 pitches over his 9 innings; 79 of those strikes. A fifth inning walk to Jay Bruce was his only blemish. Watching him, you just had the eerie feeling that nobody was going to touch him...and they didn't. Between this amazing feat, his perfect game back in May and most likely being named the NL Cy Young Award winner, i'm expecting a statue of Roy being built in front of Citizens Bank by April.

Oh yea, Phils won 4-0, rocked Edinson Volquez, who shouldn't have been starting game 1 after missing most of the year and had an RBI single from..you guessed it..Roy Hobbs..err..Halladay

Before this historic game, however, we had the postseason kick off with a phenomenal matchup of Cliff Lee vs David Price. Unfortunately, David Price didn't get the memo.

Price went 6 2/3, but gave up a couple of bombs to Bengie Molina and Nelson Cruz; not to mention an RBI single to Jeff Francoeur! You think the playoffs have revitalized him?

If there's one thing I did learn yesterday it was that Lee ALWAYS steps it up in October, regardless of what kind of year he had this season. Cliff scattered a run and 5 hits over 7 with 10K's..probably would have been the talk of yesterday if Roy Roy didn't go nuts.

Texas has a lineup full of hitters and this series will NOT be easy for the Rays. At least 35,000 strong actually showed up to the game. C.J Wilson and his 15-8 record take the mound for the Rangers while James Shields goes for TB this afternoon and Shields just did not have a good year. He has given up at least 4 earned runs in 5 of his last 6 starts and facing this potent Texas offense won't help. Expect Texas to go up 2-0 and win their first ever playoff series!

In Minny last night, C.C Sabathia wasn't at his best, but the Yankees still managed to come out on top 6-4 with a little help from Big Tex. Mariano came on, faced four batters and broke 4 bats; definitely looked like the Mo of old last night. Now, the question is can Andy Pettitte look like his old self in Game 2 against former Yankee, Carl Pavano. I can only imagine how bad you Yanks fans wanna stick it to this guy.

Don't forget about the Braves and San Francisco baseball Giants. They get kicked off tonight around 9:30! "Big Time Timmy Jim" Lincecum battles Derek Lowe as the Bravos look to extend Bobby Cox's managerial career. In a side note, the highest paid player on the Giants, Barry Zito, was left off the roster because he has sucked for the first 4 years of his contract

Just for the record, does anybody else hate the pitchtracker on TBS? Just saying!

Enjoy the games tonight and i'll be back to recap day 2 tomorrow!