LA Angels (0-0) at NY Yankees (0-0)

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Angels probable pitcher

Joe Saunders

  • #51 LHP
  • (0-0) -.-- ERA 0 SO
Winning his last seven decisions after a 19-day break in August to mend a knot in his left shoulder, Saunders tied Jered Weaver for the team lead with his 16 wins against seven losses.

Saunders, who allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of his last eight outings, wasn't needed for Game 4 against the Red Sox in Boston and will be well rested if he draws the assignment at Yankee Stadium. He hasn't pitched since Oct. 4 when he went five innings in Oakland.

The lefty is known as a finesse pitcher but gets his fastball in the 92-94 mph range, to go with a quality breaking ball and changeup. He focuses on early-count outs with his heater.

Saunders, who didn't break into the rotation full time until 2008, consistently has done some of his best work on the road. He's 25-10 with a 3.97 career ERA on the road compared to 23-12 with a 4.43 ERA at home.

Saunders pitched twice at old Yankee Stadium. He beat the Yankees in his sixth Major League start there on Aug. 11, 2006, holding them to three runs -- two earned -- in six innings.

Saunders also worked a scoreless inning in the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

Owing in part to his roots in Virginia, Saunders has flourished in cool weather. He's 10-1 with a 2.51 ERA in April and 12-4 with a 4.31 in September and October.

  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 48-22 4.22 571.1 184 328 .272
Season 16-7 4.60 186.0 64 101 .279
October 1-0 3.60 5.0 2 3 .353
Vs. NY Yankees 1-0 4.73 13.1 2 6 .291

Series at a Glance

Standings - 10/17/2009 W L PCT GB Home Away
Los Angeles Angels (AL West) 97 65 .599 - 49-32 48-33
New York Yankees (AL East) 103 59 .636 - 57-24 46-35
Stats - 10/17/2009 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
LAA .285 883 173 841 148 1054 4.45 1445.0 1513 523 1062
NYY .283 915 244 881 111 1014 4.26 1450.0 1386 574 1260

Yankees probable pitcher

A.J. Burnett

  • #34 RHP
  • (0-0) -.-- ERA 0 SO
The hoopla concerning Burnett's pairing with backup catcher Jose Molina proved to be all for naught in Game 2 of the ALDS, as Burnett held the Twins to one run on three hits in his first career postseason start. Burnett was effectively wild, issuing five walks and striking out six as he took a no-decision in a game Mark Teixeira won with an 11th inning home run. Burnett was 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA vs. the Angels in 2009, logging a victory on Sept. 23. In the two starts, Burnett allowed six runs on 15 hits in 12 2/3 innings while walking four and striking out 16. He was 5-3 with a 3.51 ERA in 16 starts at Yankee Stadium this season.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 100-85 3.84 1583.1 665 1473 .236
Season 13-9 4.04 207.0 97 195 .247
October 1-0 1.80 5.0 1 3 .318
Vs. LA Angels 1-0 4.26 12.2 4 16 .306

Angels hitters vs A.J. Burnett
Regular Season stats only

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Abreu, Bobby .167 6 0 1 .286 49 0 8
Aybar, Erick .200 5 0 1 .200 5 0 1
Bourjos, Peter - - - - - - - -
Brown, Matthew - - - - - - - -
Budde, Ryan - - - - - - - -
Evans, Terry - - - - - - - -
Hunter, Torii .000 6 0 0 .087 23 2 2
Izturis, Maicer .000 3 0 1 .250 16 0 3
Kendrick, Howard .400 5 0 0 .364 11 0 3
Mathis, Jeff - - - - .400 5 0 1
Matthews, Gary .500 2 0 1 .154 13 0 2
Morales, Kendry .167 6 0 0 .167 6 0 0
Napoli, Mike .600 5 1 1 .364 11 2 2
Pettit, Chris - - - - - - - -
Rivera, Juan .200 5 0 0 .250 8 0 0
Sandoval, Freddy - - - - - - - -
Trumbo, Mark - - - - - - - -
Willits, Reggie - - - - .000 1 0 0
Wilson, Bobby - - - - - - - -
Wood, Brandon - - - - .167 6 0 0

Yankees hitters vs Joe Saunders
Regular Season stats only

  2009 2004-2008
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Cabrera, Melky .000 5 0 0 .000 6 0 0
Cano, Robinson .167 6 0 0 .182 11 0 3
Cervelli, Francisco - - - - - - - -
Corona, Reegie - - - - - - - -
Gardner, Brett - - - - - - - -
Jackson, Austin - - - - - - - -
Jeter, Derek .714 7 0 0 .467 15 1 2
Miranda, Juan - - - - - - - -
Nunez, Eduardo - - - - - - - -
Pena, Ramiro - - - - - - - -
Posada, Jorge .667 3 0 0 .500 4 0 0
Rodriguez, Alex .571 7 2 3 .500 14 2 4
Russo, Kevin - - - - - - - -
Swisher, Nick .167 6 0 2 .238 21 1 6
Teixeira, Mark .000 7 0 0 .125 16 0 0

Meant 2B? Error ends NYY classic (0-2) (2-0)

Yankees 4, Angels 3 (13)

An ending to forget

Lyle Spencer / MLB.com
It was certainly a game for the ages, but for the Halos, it goes down as a tough loss and an 0-2 ALCS deficit following a long and rainy night in the Bronx. Like the opener, defense proved to be their downfall when Maicer Izturis' error to second allowed Jerry Hairston Jr. to race home with the game-winning run in the 13th.
Full story >
Angels Wrap >

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Series at a Glance

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Yanks walk off to 2-0

Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
Under inclement conditions, the Yanks prevailed over the Halos in a five-hour-plus epic to gain a 2-0 lead in the ALCS. Down one in the 11th, Alex Rodriguez hit a game-tying blast to negate a Chone Figgins go-ahead single, and in the 13th, a Maicer Izturis throwing error allowed Jerry Hairston Jr. to score the game-winner.
Full story >
Yankees Wrap >

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Yankees 4, Angels 3

LA Angels AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Figgins, 3B 3 0 1 1 2 1 0 .143
Abreu, B, RF 5 0 0 0 2 2 5 .000
Hunter, CF 6 0 2 0 1 1 4 .333
Guerrero, DH 7 0 1 0 0 2 8 .182
Morales, K, 1B 5 0 0 0 0 2 1 .125
Rivera, J, LF 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .125
  1-Willits, PR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
  Mathis, J, C 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .250
Izturis, M, 2B 5 1 1 0 1 0 1 .200
Napoli, C 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
  a-Matthews, PH-LF 2 1 0 0 1 2 4 .000
Aybar, E, SS 5 1 1 1 0 0 2 .125
Totals 47 3 8 2 7 10 28  

a-Struck out for Napoli in the 8th.
1-Ran for Rivera, J in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Hunter (1, Burnett, A), Izturis, M (1, Burnett, A), Mathis, J (1, Robertson, D).
TB: Figgins; Hunter 3; Guerrero; Rivera, J; Mathis, J 2; Izturis, M 2; Aybar, E.
RBI: Aybar, E (1), Figgins (1).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Guerrero 7; Aybar, E; Matthews.
S: Aybar, E; Figgins.
GIDP: Hunter.
Team RISP: 3-for-15.
Team LOB: 16.

BASERUNNING
SB: Aybar, E (1, 2nd base off Burnett, A/Molina, J).

FIELDING
E: Figgins (1, throw), Izturis, M (1, throw).
DP: 3 (Saunders-Aybar, E-Morales, K, Morales, K-Aybar, E-Saunders, Izturis, M-Aybar, E-Morales, K).
 
NY Yankees AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Jeter, SS 5 1 1 1 1 1 3 .300
Damon, LF 6 0 2 0 0 1 3 .364
Teixeira, 1B 5 0 0 0 1 1 3 .100
Rodriguez, A, 3B 6 1 1 1 0 0 5 .250
Matsui, H, DH 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .429
  2-Guzman, F, PR-DH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
  b-Hairston, J, PH-DH 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
Swisher, RF 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 .333
  1-Gardner, PR-CF 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500
Cano, 2B 5 0 1 1 1 0 3 .125
Cabrera, Me, CF-RF 6 0 2 0 0 3 1 .375
Molina, J, C 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .500
  a-Posada, PH-C 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .167
Totals 48 4 13 3 4 8 20  

a-Grounded out for Molina, J in the 8th. b-Singled for Guzman, F in the 13th.
1-Ran for Swisher in the 7th. 2-Ran for Matsui, H in the 9th.

BATTING
3B: Cano (1, Saunders).
HR: Jeter (1, 3rd inning off Saunders, 0 on, 1 out), Rodriguez, A (1, 11th inning off Fuentes, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Jeter 4; Damon 2; Rodriguez, A 4; Matsui, H; Hairston, J; Swisher; Gardner; Cano 3; Cabrera, Me 2; Molina, J; Posada.
RBI: Cano (1), Jeter (2), Rodriguez, A (2).
2-out RBI: Cano.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera, Me; Damon; Cano 2; Teixeira; Rodriguez, A 2.
S: Gardner.
GIDP: Jeter; Matsui, H; Cano.
Team RISP: 0-for-8.
Team LOB: 12.

FIELDING
E: Cano 2 (2, fielding, fielding), Jeter (1, fielding).
DP: (Rodriguez, A-Cano-Teixeira).
 
LA Angels IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Saunders 7.0 6 2 2 1 5 1 2.57
Jepsen 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
Oliver 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.00
Fuentes (BS, 1) 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 1 9.00
Santana, E (L, 0-1) 1.1 3 1 0 2 1 0 0.00
 
NY Yankees IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Burnett, A 6.1 3 2 2 2 4 0 2.84
Coke 0.1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00
Chamberlain 0.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
Hughes, P 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
Rivera, Ma 2.1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00
Aceves, A 1.1 1 1 1 2 0 0 6.75
Marte, D 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Robertson, D (W, 1-0) 1.1 1 0 0 2 1 0 0.00

WP: Burnett, A.
IBB: Jeter (by Oliver), Cano (by Santana, E), Abreu, B (by Aceves, A), Izturis, M (by Robertson, D), Abreu, B (by Robertson, D).
HBP: Morales, K (by Burnett, A), Figgins (by Burnett, A).
Pitches-strikes: Saunders 105-57, Jepsen 28-17, Oliver 23-11, Fuentes 16-13, Santana, E 30-15, Burnett, A 114-75, Coke 11-5, Chamberlain 10-7, Hughes, P 9-8, Rivera, Ma 25-17, Aceves, A 24-13, Marte, D 4-3, Robertson, D 33-17.
Groundouts-flyouts: Saunders 11-5, Jepsen 5-0, Oliver 2-1, Fuentes 2-0, Santana, E 2-1, Burnett, A 6-9, Coke 0-0, Chamberlain 0-0, Hughes, P 0-1, Rivera, Ma 2-3, Aceves, A 3-1, Marte, D 1-0, Robertson, D 3-0.
Batters faced: Saunders 26, Jepsen 8, Oliver 5, Fuentes 4, Santana, E 10, Burnett, A 27, Coke 2, Chamberlain 2, Hughes, P 4, Rivera, Ma 8, Aceves, A 6, Marte, D 1, Robertson, D 8.
Inherited runners-scored: Coke 1-0, Chamberlain 2-0, Rivera, Ma 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Laz Diaz. 1B: Bill Miller. 2B: Jerry Layne. 3B: Fieldin Culbreth. LF: Dale Scott. RF: Tim McClelland.
Weather: 47 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 11 mph, L to R.
T: 5:10.
Att: 49,922.
October 17, 2009

Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner