Yankees battle back against Minnesota, take Game 1 of ALDS 6-4

was in total control through the first five innings of the first game of the 2010 ALDS, and the three runs the Twins scored for him on a two-run home run and the heads-up baserunning of felt like plenty, as Liriano held the Yankees to a mere two hits up to that point.

Unfortunately for the Twins, things fell apart for Liriano with one out in the sixth, as a double, walk, RBI single, RBI single and two-run triple brought the Yankees all the way back from three runs down, taking a 4-3 lead.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, was far from crisp for much of the game, and after recording two quick outs in the bottom of the sixth, gave up a walk to , a double to that was actually in ‘s glove but bounced out, a walk to to load the bases, and a walk to with the bases loaded to tie the game. Sabathia’s final line was 6 IP, 5H, 4R, 3ER, 3BB and 5K — all in all not terrible, but not quite the level of excellence Sabathia has spoiled us with so frequently.

Undeterred by the newly tied game, hit a one-out single in the top of the seventh, followed by the biggest blast of the game: a majestic go-ahead bomb that put the Yankees ahead 6-4, and would end up representing .

, and — who have been the Yankees’ go-to relievers all season — continued to get the job done, pitching 1 2/3 innings of shutout ball. Joe Girardi called on with two outs in the eighth, and Mo made like vintage postseason Mo in nailing down the four-out save. Well really it was actually five, but the umpires completely blew the call on what should’ve been the last out of the game on a catch that was ruled a trap. I’m sorry, but that is just inexcusable, and yet another nail in the coffin of so-called baseball purists who inexplicably think the game doesn’t need expanded replay. It absolutely does, and I shudder to think what would’ve happened had hit a game-tying two-run blast instead of popping out on the first pitch.

And so the Yankees were able to come away with a huge Game 1 win on the road on a night where their ace had a less-than-stellar evening and the team faced a 3-0 deficit through five innings against one of the best pitchers in the league. This was also the Yankees’ seventh straight come-from-behind win against the Twins in the postseason, going back to Game 2 of the 2004 ALDS. Also, , every Yankee starter reached base in the game, which is pretty significant given how punchless the team looked through the first five innings. This was a huge win for all of the aforementioned reasons, but perhaps none moreso than the fact that they have to face and his -esque repertoire of Official Yankee-Slaying Off-Speed Slop™ in Game 2.