ALCS: New York 0 - 8 Texas (Texas leads 2-1)

This game was not actually a blowout. Andy Pettite pitched very well for the Yankees, and the score was only 2-0 going into the ninth. Normally, when the Yankees give up only two runs through eight innings, they go into the ninth inning with the lead -- and that brings Rivera and, almost always, victory. But tonight the Yankees did not have the lead. Tonight, the Yankees were facing Cliff Lee, and he totally dominated them:

Innings Pitched: 8
Hits: 2
Runs: 0
Earned Runs: 0
Walks: 1
Strikeouts: 13

So even if the Rangers had not broken through for six runs in the ninth, they would have won this game. Lee now has three of the five Texas victories in the post-season -- and all three were on the road.

The Yankees are now in trouble. Lee can pitch at least one more game in this series, and you have to believe he will win it. So the Yankees cannot afford to lose any of the games in which Lee does not pitch.