ALCS: Texas 5 - 6 New York (New York leads 1-0)

Back in the 1930s and 1940s, baseball games used to start at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, so that the guys working the early shift could watch. In those days, the Yankees were famous for hammering pitchers in the late innings; the sportswriters used to call this "five o'clock lightning."

These days, of course, the baseball playoffs are played in the middle of the night, and it takes much longer than two hours to get to the late innings, so the old "five o'clock lightning" label no longer applies. But the basic principle is the same. The Yankees spend the first few innings fouling off lots of pitches, drawing walks, and generally running up the pitch count. They don't panic. And in the late innings, they strike.

In this game the Texas Rangers started off by jumping all over the Yankees. They scored three runs in the first, tacked on two more in the fourth, chased C.C. Sabathia from the game, and appeared to be totally dominant. Going into the top of the 8th, the Rangers still led 5-1 and their starter, C.J. Wilson, appeared to be cruising along. But the Yankees started the 8th with an infield single, a double (from Derek Jeter), a walk, and another walk. Suddenly it was 5-2 with the bases loaded and no outs. Mr. Wilson left the proceedings to be replaced by Darren O'Day, who had an ERA of 2.03. He threw one pitch, which Alex Rodriguez slapped into left field for a single. Now it was 5-4, and Mr. O'Day left us. He was replaced by Clay Rapada, who had only thrown nine innings all year. Mr. Rapada's only pitch was smacked into center for a single by Robinson Cano, and the game was tied. Now the Rangers turned to Derek Holland, who actually pitched quite well -- retiring Jorge Posada, Curtis Granderson, and Brett Gardner in order to end the inning. Unfortunately for the Rangers, before Holland recorded those outs he allowed yet another single (this one to Marcus Thames) and the Yankees had a 6-5 lead.

And that was that. The Yankees sent out their two aged relievers -- Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera -- each of them pitched an inning, and the game was over. The Rangers still have not won a playoff game at home. They will get another chance tomorrow.