THE A.J. TO MO EXPRESS

After Cliff Lee's Game One dominance, A.J. Burnett was faced with the task of keeping the Yankees in this World Series. He had drawn a tough Game Two opponent in the crafty veteran, and one of the all-time greats, Pedro Martinez. While many dismissed Martinez, it was A.J. whom they trusted less. He was signed to an oft-criticized contract, and proceeded to have an inconsistent season. He's had an OK post-season, with two decent wins and one bad inning leading to an ugly loss. However, with the pressure on his shoulders and critics at his back, he proved them all wrong, and earned his money in pitching one his best efforts of the season. In seven solid innings, he struck out nine and gave up one run that wasn't even entirely his fault.

This is what the Yanks saw in him last year, when he was a constant torn in their side as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. Seemingly, he always rose to the occasion of a big game against the Yanks or Red Sox. They hoped this big gameness would translate to the playoffs, and now it has.

Once he pitched those 7 innings, Joe Giradi handed the ball off to Mariano Rivera. With this move, it was obvious that Giradi was sending a message to the rest of his bullpen. A message of lost trust, and one that hopefully lights a fire under their collective keysters. Mo came in and did his job, getting a six-out save that unfortunately took 39 pitches, the most for him this year. This was the problem with having Rivera pitching 2 innings. The Yankees will now be playing a praying and waiting game that he'll be available for Saturday night's Game Three. Don't get me wrong, this was a must have win, and Mo got the job done, but you have to wonder if maybe Joba could've handled the 8th.

Right now it doesn't matter, and while that last question is a slight second guess, you have to give it to Giradi since all of his moves worked no matter how odd they seemed. First off, he started Jerry Hairston over the Iceman Nick Swisher in right field. Odd, since you had speedster Brett Gardner and powerhouse Eric Hinkse on the bench. I rank both of those guys in front of Hairston, but the utility man is scrappy, and leading off the seventh he slapped a single to right. Gardner was then brought in to pinch-run, and he got all the way to third on a Melky Cabrera single; something Hairston may have not done. Gardner then scored on a Jorge Posada hit, which is another Giradi move. Posada had come off the bench to bat for Burnett's personal catcher, Jose Molina. Had Posada not been there, it's possible that Gardner may have not scored, so all these moves worked out. And you can't doubt Molina in the game either, as A.J. pitched very well, and the catcher nailed a runner leading off first, a move he's made famous.

That Gardner run was number three, and the Yanks only needed two to win as their pitching was that good. The first two runs came on solo shots by Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui. The Teixeira one was much needed for the slumping first baseman, and with ARod also on a slide his offense is most welcomed.

So now the series is tied, and they move to Philly starting tomorrow night. Cole Hamels will face veteran Andy Pettitte in a huge battle that could set the tone for the rest of the series. The Yankees need to win one there to take it back to New York on Tuesday. Halloween night will be as good a time as any to do just that.