Yankees bullpen collapses in 5-4 loss to Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Joba Chamberlain gives up the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. Mariano Rivera throws away a bunt in the 10th. Alfredo Aceves allows the winning run in the 11th.
What in the name of the New York Yankees' bullpen is going on?
Manager Joe Girardi's winning streak in the postseason came to a crashing halt Monday when the Los Angeles Angels beat New York 4-3 to cut their deficit to 2-1 in the best-of-seven AL championship series.
The 44-year-old Girardi was only the second manager to win his first five postseason games after leading the Yankees to a major league-best 103-59 record in his second season.
But the second-youngest manager in the majors made some curious moves in the late innings of Game 3.
David Robertson got two quick outs in the 11th, then was pulled for Aceves.
Moments later, the game was over.
Aceves gave up a single to Howie Kendrick and a long RBI double to Jeff Mathis. That left an obvious question: Why did Girardi lift Robertson with two outs and nobody on?
Girardi has played matchups with his pitchers and made several quick moves throughout the postseason, wearing out a path from the dugout to the mound.
After he went to Aceves, Girardi was busy consulting a binder of stats in the dugout.
Whatever his reasoning Monday, it didn't work for the Yankees.
