Turn Back The Clock: October 11th, 2009-Yankees Advance To ALCS In Final Metrodome Game

It’s not the greatest of Yankees’ October moments, but it is one of the more recent ones in today’s Turn Back The Clock. There were many to choose from, including the memorable Bob Welch strikeout of Reggie Jackson to end Game Two of the 1978 World Series, giving the Dodgers an important win. It was also eight years ago today, that Yankees’ pitcher Cory Lidle tragically crashed his airplane into a New York City condominium high rise, ending his life.

Rather than dwell on something tragic, or reach into the past of a Yankees’ Fall Classic loss, we are going to go back only five years, to October 11th, 2009, as the final baseball contest ever was played in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome between the host Minnesota Twins and the visiting New York Yankees.

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It was five years ago today, that the Yankees, led by Alex Rodriguez and his superb series play in the Division Series, won Game Three to complete a sweep, and advance to the American League Championship Series. A-Rod finished the series going 5-for-11, with a pair of home runs, and six driven in. It was a complete and dominating performance for the beleaguered hot corner occupant.

For the Yankees, it was also some sweet revenge, as the starter for Minnesota, was none other than the man who had pillaged the Yankees of cash, Carl Pavano. Andy Pettitte got the nod for the Bombers. It was the Twins who struck first, as catcher Joe Mauer had an RBI-single to put Minnesota up 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth. Pavano and Pettitte had each held their opposition scoreless up to that point.

As hard as it may be to believe now, the Yankees came roaring back the following inning, on a pair of home runs by A-Rod and the great Jorge Posada, putting the Yankees up 2-1 after 6 1/2 innings. The Yankees held Minnesota scoreless in the bottom of the seventh inning, but blew a huge chance to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. Twins’ infielder Nick Punto led off the inning with a double off reliever Phil Hughes, and advanced to third base when outfielder Denard Span singled. Punto, not quite knowing where the baseball was after the hit, took a huge turn at third base, and was thrown out trying to get back to the base.

It was a deflating and crushing moment for the Twins, as the Yankees recovered and didn’t allow the Twins to score anymore. The Yankees for good measure, came back in the top of the ninth inning, and added a pair of runs to go up 4-1. Facing elimination and the final half frame in Metrodome history, the Sandman, Mariano Rivera, retired the Twins to finish off both the game and the series. The Yankees completed a clean sweep, and ending baseball in the Metrodome for the final time.

The Yankees would go on to defeat the Anaheim Angels in the 2009 American League Championship Series to advance to the World Series for the first time since 2003. In the Fall Classic, the Yankees, led by Hideki Matsui, defeated the defending World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies in six games for their 27th and most recent World Series title.

The stage was set for that World Series title, because of Alex Rodriquez and his performance in the ALDS. It happened on this day, 5 years ago, October 11th, 2009.