162 games later, here we are. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:37 p.m., below you'll see two images, if you click on the images a scorecard will load. I'm going to be updating these scorecards throughout the game. You'll also be able to see the current score on the thumbnails below. After the jump, you'll find the standard live blogging action. As always, leave your thoughts in the comments, sit back, relax and enjoy, Yankee fans. We've earned this.
Yes, I realize the game doesn't start for 2 hours, but there's been some news. Doug may be a late scratch from the lineup tonight. If he can't go, will Joe go with Betemit at first? Shelley? Giambi? My money is on Betemit.
It looks like Doug will be in the lineup. Here's the story from the Daily News. A Cleveland cameraman "accidentally" tripped and fell on his ankle.
Peter Abraham is reporting that is was actually a YES cameraman who fell on Doug's ankle. That's what I get for linking to a Daily News story.
Here we go. First pitch is 3 minutes away.
Damon hits a bomb down the right field line, called foul. For some reason TNT isn't showing a replay. SHOW THE REPLAY!!!!
It's gone. The umps huddled up and got the call right. I think, horrible replay work by TNT.
How does the closest ump to the play get that one wrong?
The big man is having troubles with command, this is not the team to do that against.
Don't let him get out of this with only one run scoring.
An early lead is nice, but a 2 or 3 run lead would've been better.
Tough at bat for Hafner there. Wang needs to put him away.
He was way ahead of Martinez before the single too. He needs to get out of this without a run scoring.
Damnit. Tie ball game. Stop the bleeding here.
Everything is up in the zone. Deuces wild, put Peralta away and let the O get back to work.
F&cking Lofton. That was exactly what Wang couldn't do there. Down 3-1 now in the top of the second.
These starters are not long for this game.
Cano caught stealing to end the top of the second. I don't have a problem with running him there. Damon now leads off the third.
Nice throw by Jorge to cut down Sizemore and end the second. Wang seems to be settling, Sizemore's single came off a nice pitch, and just found a hole.
I'd like to see 20+ pitches from Sabathia here. Get him out of there before the sixth.
Abreu works another walk, this time he was down 0-2.
A-Rod pops out to short. He jumped on a first-pitch fastball after a walk. I like the aggressive move, not the result.
The tribe tacks on another run, if Wang doesn't get it together soon, Hughes is going to be in this game, and Mussina will definitely be starting game 4.
I can't believe the ball Cano just hit got out. That was a laser. 2 runs is better than three.
Wang can't let the Tribe answer right away, keep the momentum.
Good inning for the Wanger. Kept the momentum moving the Yanks way.
Doug and then the top of the lineup for the Yanks in the fifth. How about one more run here, and about 25 more pitches for CC.
Frankenstein pinch hits and ... singles to right. Atta' boy Shelley.
I'd be bunting Jeter here with 1st and 2nd, no outs.
HUGE double for Abreu. Free pass for A-Rod, make them pay Jorge. Make it hurt!
Wow, green light on 3-0 for Jorge. And, he K's.
I don't know why, but I have a feeling Matsui is going to come through here.
Or maybe not. OK, 4-3, I asked for one run, I got one run. Hold them here, Sabathia is pretty much cooked.
F*cking lead-off walks. Two-run bomb for Victor Martinez.
That drum guy seems a little slow to me.
Double for Peralta, broken bat.
I think Lofton is Wang's last batter, no matter what. TBS hasn't shown a single shot of the pen, but I have to think someone is up out there.
RBI single up the middle for Lofton. He has 3 two-out RBIs tonight. That's really difference in the game up to this point.
Ohlendorf is in. I'm glad it isn't Hughes.
Two-run double for Blake. Now I'm concerned.
The tribe finally made an out with a runner in scoring position.
Rafael Perez is in for the Indians. CC's final line was horrible, but he's in line for the win.
I realize this is the worst form of hindsight, but if Shelley was the DH, Cano would've been moved up into Matsui's slot. Cano is 1 for 2 with a HR and a walk. Matsui has left five runners on base already.
No matter how it ends, Shelley has had two great at bats. It ends with a K.
The ball is flying out of this park. That's the second bomb that I didn't think had a prayer of going out.
Double digits for the tribe.
Get Veras up, Joe.
Another two-out RBI for Lofton, his fourth. 11-3, Tribe.
Veras is in.
The only good news to this point is that the Indians haven't sent more than 9 batters to the plate in a single inning. That would've messed up my scorecard.
I'm a little surprised Perez is out there for a second inning. I hope this burns him for tomorrow's game.
F Me. Hughes is in. He probably could still start in game four, rest-wise. But I think Joe is telling us right now that Moose will get that start.
Hughes mows down the Indians 1,2,3. Just like he would've done if Joe let him start game 4.
The Yanks go silently into the night in the eighth.
Opposite-field bomb for Garko. 12-3, Tribe.
I'd like to see the Yanks get something going in the 9th here. Something they can build on tomorrow.
This was an ugly game. If I read any headlines about A-Rod choking tomorrow, I'm going to lose it. He's the last guy you can blame for this debacle.
The Good News: None of this matters once the first pitch is thrown tomorrow. Clean slate, and a win tomorrow means the Yanks can clinch by holding home-field advantage.
Player of The Game: Damon, his solo bomb in the top of the first was the high point tonight.
I'll be live blogging again tomorrow night. Don't let this one keep you up tonight, Yankee fans. Tomorrow is another day.
Letting Sabathia off the hook in the first inning hurts...at least his pitch count is getting up there. It would be nice if we could get to the bullpen in the 6th, since they have two great middle relievers in Betancourt and Perez
Ok, this is it. This is the inning. Interesting that even though this inning CC is not doing first-pitch strikes well, in the prior inning, Yanks could have hit his first pitches, it seems, but chose to take them instead. I wonder if we had more runs by now, but perhaps fewer pitches for CC.
Kinda like a typical outing for Wanger on the road - you just can't ignore regular season stats. I understand him pitching game 1, but still, I wonder how much consideration was given to him starting game 3.
OUCH! That one hurt....6 - 3.
That 'man in the field' Craig Sager looks like he has a dead squirrel on his head what a rotten piece. Isn't anyone up in the pen?
Yeah, I wanna see Borowski too. It's funny when one looks forward to seeing some team's closer come in. Problem is they've got two Rafaels in there in the middle who are quite good. So, could be a long shot to see Borowski, but here's hoping.
Can they get two out of one of the rafaels? I'm not sure I would've brought Perez in there, although you always want to put a zero on the board after your team scores. Something the Yanks never seem to do.
Are Cleveland fans saying it's dumb to bring in the second Rafael in here? Is Wedge that scared? It's like if Joe brought in Joba tonite. It'd be a shit storm.
Wang is not a #1...he's a nice #3. And I fear Pettitte's post-season mastery is a thing of the past.
What was Torre thinking batting Matsui against Sabathia...?
Pitching, Pitching and Pitching. Let Joba start game 3...Clemens has elbow troubles more serious than we know. If Pettitte gets blasted tonight this thing is over.
Give him a chance, it was his first comment. To be clear, though. There's no way Joba is starting game 3, and a loss tonight would be bad, but the series wouldn't be over by any means. The Yanks came back from losing the first two at home against the A's in a 5-game series.
Outstanding.
Really -- do you ever sleep?
Friggin YES guys- Back off, I klnow what he looks like I don't need to see him walkin into the clubhouse
Sleep isn't really an option at this point. Mrs. DF is 1 day past her due date, and just a tad restless.
I don't want to get too excited yet, but this inning has been a thing of beauty so far...over 30 pitches already.
and as I type that Posada strikes out...
We need another inning like the first.
Here's Shelley...
Letting Sabathia off the hook in the first inning hurts...at least his pitch count is getting up there. It would be nice if we could get to the bullpen in the 6th, since they have two great middle relievers in Betancourt and Perez
what i meant was Perez and Betancourt will probably pitch the 7th and 8th, so it would be nice to face a lesser reliever in the 6th...
Ok, this is it. This is the inning. Interesting that even though this inning CC is not doing first-pitch strikes well, in the prior inning, Yanks could have hit his first pitches, it seems, but chose to take them instead. I wonder if we had more runs by now, but perhaps fewer pitches for CC.
Here we go, Bobby, now time to step on CC's neck.
Come on Jorge!
Wow, talk about a wasted opp. All in all, though, I think we did all right against CC - 3 ER/5 IP on 114 pitches - he's done for the night.
thats twice we let him off the hook. Really frustrating...
Getting him out after 5 was more than we could've hoped for. If Wang gets through the fifth and holds the score here I like our chances.
Key inning for the Wanger here, but very shaky command here.
Joe put in Shelley Duncan and is leaving him at first! Good move.
Sabathia looks like he's tiring.
Son of a bitch.
Kinda like a typical outing for Wanger on the road - you just can't ignore regular season stats. I understand him pitching game 1, but still, I wonder how much consideration was given to him starting game 3.
OUCH! That one hurt....6 - 3.
That 'man in the field' Craig Sager looks like he has a dead squirrel on his head what a rotten piece. Isn't anyone up in the pen?
disgusting.
At least we can't hear Sager's drivel over the loudspeakers.
Let's see what the kid can do. The Yanks are not done scoring, not by a long shot.
Wonder how Cleveland basketball fans will react to LeBron bein' a Yankee fan.
How many freakin' teams have Lofton played on anyway? Is this his third stint with the Indians?
All right, here we go, 6 more runs and we're right back in it.
We need to get within three by the ninth. Borowski won't come in unless it's a save situation.
Lofton has played for every team, and the Indians thrice? Yep, thrice.
Yeah, I wanna see Borowski too. It's funny when one looks forward to seeing some team's closer come in. Problem is they've got two Rafaels in there in the middle who are quite good. So, could be a long shot to see Borowski, but here's hoping.
Where in the world did this Perez come from? He throws some nasty stuff.
Can they get two out of one of the rafaels? I'm not sure I would've brought Perez in there, although you always want to put a zero on the board after your team scores. Something the Yanks never seem to do.
Getting uglier by the minute. I expected more from Ross, but I guess when it rains...
I hope we don't run out of our B and C pitchers tonite.
I figure Veras gets the 8th, the Viz the 9th, if the score stays the same.
Sorry, meant to say Veras gets the 7th and The Viz gets the 8th. There won't be a 9th if the score stays like this.
Hmm, Phil. Ease him into the playoff atmosphere, I guess?
Nice K.
Hughes is throwing hard tonight.
Impressive Phil today. Too bad the score is all wrong.
Guess that means Hughes won't be starting if Clemens can't go.
I don't think the Clemens start is in doubt anymore. I was still holding out hope that he'd start game 4. I guess not.
Why burn out Phil here? That looks dumb to me. He's throwing well and may be needed tomorrow. Hmm.
I kinda doubt they'd use him 2 days in a row. He's never relieved before.
Huge, huge game tomorrow for the boys, pivotal. We'll need our offense to do much better tomorrow.
Yep. It would help if Andy could hold them under 10 runs as well.
I'd bet my left nut Giambi will be playing first if Doug can't go. Prepare yourselves.
Are Cleveland fans saying it's dumb to bring in the second Rafael in here? Is Wedge that scared? It's like if Joe brought in Joba tonite. It'd be a shit storm.
Oh, lord, now getting visuals of Giambino at 1st from a week or two ago. One effing scary visual.
This night doubly sucks. First the Phils, then the Yankees get clobbered.
Oh well...hopefully I'll see one winner...GO CUBBIES!
At least they're making Betancourt throw some pitches here. The Rafael's may be unavailable, or weakened tomorrow night.
Hoping so as well.
Thanks for all the comments guys. 5pm start tomorrow, I'll be live blogging again (as long as I'm not on my way to the hospital).
Fellas -
Wang is not a #1...he's a nice #3. And I fear Pettitte's post-season mastery is a thing of the past.
What was Torre thinking batting Matsui against Sabathia...?
Pitching, Pitching and Pitching. Let Joba start game 3...Clemens has elbow troubles more serious than we know. If Pettitte gets blasted tonight this thing is over.
This Gee-Force sure sounds like of them troll fellas.
Give him a chance, it was his first comment. To be clear, though. There's no way Joba is starting game 3, and a loss tonight would be bad, but the series wouldn't be over by any means. The Yanks came back from losing the first two at home against the A's in a 5-game series.