By Eric Denton – Angelswin.com Senior Columnist
It’s pretty simple to describe what the Angels have to do this weekend in New York. Have fun, play smart and win. Of course it wont be that easy, nothing worth doing ever is. However this is the Angels time to shine and perhaps they have momentum on their side despite not having home field advantage.
New York had a chance to put away the Angels on Thursday night after their lopsided 10-1 victory and failed. New York ralied from a 4-0 deficit to take a 6-4 lead in the 7th inning of game 5 and lost. This years addition of the Yankees have been all about the big comeback or walk off ending with a pie in the face of that night’s hero. It didn’t happen on Thursday, how could this be, they’re the Yankees?
It happened because the Angels finally played like the Angels. They got out to a lead for the first 6 innings and were able to hold the Yanks in check. They fell behind but didn’t panic, answering right back with 3 runs of their own to take a 7-6 lead that held after a gut wrenching bases loaded at bat from Nick Swisher.
Three Keys to Game 6
1. Strike early (and often). The Angels will be facing Andy Pettitte for the second time in the series. The Halos scored 3 runs off him in 6 1/3 innings in game three on a solo shot by Howie Kendrick and a 2 run homer from Vladimir Guerrero. Instead of coming from behind like they did on Pettitte it would behoove the club to attack early like they did against A.J. Burnett in Game 5. Scoring early in Anaheim got the crowd into the game, scoring early in New York will hopefully make their crowd nervous and relatively mute. One thing in the Angels favor is Pettitte has been better on the road than at home in 2009. (6-4, 4.59 ERA)
2. Starter Joe Saunders must repeat his Game 2 or improve on his 7 inning 2 er performance. While the new Yankee Stadium doesn’t play like the old park it still has a pretty large outfield. Saunders has to keep the ball down and get the double play when he needs it as well as getting the right handed power bats to hit it to the big part of the outfield into Torii Hunter’s golden glove.
3. After the blown save in game 2 and his tight rope act last night Brian Fuentes as well as set up man Kevin Jepsen might not be the one’s Mike Scioscia should call upon to shut it down late in the game. Jason Bulger and Darren Oliver have been solid for the Angels but it’s been Ervin Santana who has come out of the pen and pitched real well. Perhaps it’s “Magic” who should be called upon to get the final 3 outs.
Game 6
@ Yankee Stadium : 4:57PM PDT
TV: FOX
RADIO: KLAA 830, KFWB, ESPN Radio, KWKW 1330
Joe Saunders vs. Andy Pettitte
Game 7 (if necessary)
@ Yankee Stadium : 5:20PM PDT
TV: FOX
RADIO: KLAA 830, KFWB, ESPN Radio, KWKW 1330
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