Late last night, the team with the best record in baseball the New York Yankees were able to fend off the always capable Anaheim Angels to become the 1st team this season to clinch a playoff berth. It would not come easy again for the Yankees vs the Angels as the Yanks C-list starter Chad Gaudin who was handed a 5-0 lead but could not go the 5 innings needed for the win again had his troubles once again, he was followed by a Yankee bullpen who could not avoid the Angels who pushed the game into a tie in the 8th when Maicer Izturus drove in the 5th run with a single of off Phils Hughes who has been stellar since manning the 8th inning roll.
But in the bottom of the 9th the Yanks grabbed the lead for good when a sacrifice fly by A-ROD who homered earlier in the game gave the Yanks a 6-5 lead as Mariano Rivera bounce back to save it.
The Yanks took the win in stride as not much of a celebration was on display out on the field after the final out. There was no champagne on this night as the Yankees know this is hopefully only the beginning of better things to come. It will be the Yankees 14 playoff berth in the last 15 years but the 1st for Joe Girardi as manager who missed out and was the man at the helm last year when the Yankees consecutive streak of 13 playoffs appearances in a row was snapped. The only thing left for the Yankees now is the wait and see game as in wait as see who they will face in the 1st round of the playoffs, whether it's the Detroit Tigers or the surging Minnesota Twins, the Yanks need to stay focus and erase 1st round knockouts which they have suffered since 2004. The Yanks still have their problems like all teams do but their problem is still Joba Chamberlain, the big righty still hasn't been able to find the winning form as we are just 2 weeks away from the big show.