Mr. Clutch

For most people, they'll remember last night's victory over the Red Sux by the scene of Marcus Thames' two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the night as the iconic image of the evening.  And kudos to Marcus for his first second* ever career walk-off home run.  However, for me, the moment of the night was A-Rod's two-run homer to left center field just moments before.  With the Yankees suddenly down and trailing for the first time all game long, blowing a 5-0 lead, Alex Rodriguez stepped up to the plate, put the team on his back, and took us to the straightaway.  Thankfully, Thames got us over the finish line.

A-Rod got off to a bad start with the Yankees.  His relationship with the press was tenuous.  The juicing confession did nothing to help that.  He seemed a little gripey about playing 3B instead of SS.  And what was worse, he wasn't producing in clutch situations, especially in the post-season.  But miraculously, all that changed last year, bad hip and all.  Over the last two seasons (2009-10), Rodriguez has been involved in scoring or driving in the game-winning or tying run in seven of the Yankees 16 walk-off innings (two game-ending home runs, two game-tying home runs, two game-winning runs scored and hit the pop-up resulting in a two-run walk-off error vs. the Mets).  A-Rod tied up more postseason games with the Yankees trailing than any other player.  And last night was not the first time this season he brought the team within striking distance of a win.  He has consistently come up big this season, and one could only hope it continues.  Girardi has done a good job of keeping his slugger well rested, giving him the day off from time to time, or keeping him in as DH.  If he can stay healthy (and keep out of the tabloids) then maybe this is the year for the New York love affair to truly begin with Alex Rodriguez....

* Thanks for the correction on Thames and his walk-off HR stats NYY Game Notes!