Yankees Beat O’s 3-1, Advance To ALCS

The New York Yankees (3-2) held the Baltimore Orioles (2-3) in check on Friday night winning 3-1, advancing the American League Championship Series which is set to start on Saturday night.  C.C. Sabathia was brilliant pitching in and out of trouble in the complete game performance only allowing one run on four hits and struck out 8.

Both teams were stagnant on offense through the first four innings. Baltimore starter Jason Hammel pitched effectively until the fifth inning when the Yankees finally broke through and scored a run. Mark Teixeira led off with a single and then stole second. The next hitter Raul Ibanez hit a hot shot ground ball just past the diving Robert Andino at second base scoring Teixeira putting the Yankees on top 1-0.

The Yanks added another in the sixth inning. After Derek Jeter walked, Ichiro drilled a double off the top of the right field wall scoring Jeter who ran on contact, from first base.

In the eighth inning with one out Curtis Granderson finally did something positive for the Yankees this postseason when he drilled a solo home run to right off of Orioles reliever Troy Patton. The home run put the Yanks up 3-0.

In the bottom of the 8^th Sabathia found himself in trouble. Matt Wieters led off with a single, Manny Machado followed with a walk. After Mark Reynolds struck out, Lew Ford laced a single to left field scoring Wieters making the score 3-1. Robert Andino followed the Ford single with an infield single of his own loading the bases with 1 out. Sabathia then got Nate McClouth to strike out and JJ Hardy to ground out working out of the jam.

The Yankees will start the ALCS on Saturday night hosting the Detroit Tigers. Pregame coverage begins at 7:30, first pitch at 8:07 right here on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.