CLEVELAND – The Yankees and Indians played six games this season, and going into the ALDS, the Tribe is searching for their first taste of success. And while history tells us that isn’t a guarantee the Yankees will get by the Indians, one of those six games may factor in why the Yankees have the edge.
On April 19 at Yankee Stadium, Bayonne’s Joe Borowski was asked to protect a 6-2 lead in the ninth inning. Josh Phelps homered with two outs and Bobby Abreu singled in a run. But the moment ingrained in Borowski’s mind is the 1-0 pitch that Alex Rodriguez crushed for a game-winning three-run homer.
Borowski, a Yankee briefly in 1997-98, led the AL with 45 saves but such moments linger in closer’s minds. Remember that when the right-hander has to face Rodriguez late in one of these games.