From Larry Brown Sports:
Alex Rodriguez could have been embarrassed and pouted after being replaced in the bottom of the 9th inning during Game 3 of the ALDS on Wednesday, but the Yankees DH was leading the cheers after pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez delivered an improbable game-tying home run in his place, and later another home run to win it.
Rodriguez had been struggling during the series, going 1-for-9 with five strikeouts in the first two games against Baltimore, and 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on Wednesday. Despite calls for him to be dropped in the batting order, manager Joe Girardi kept the struggling slugger in the third spot. But with one out and the Yankees trailing 2-1 in the 9th inning, Girardi opted to pinch-hit for A-Rod with Ibanez.
Ibanez, who was 1-for-3 in the series, crushed a home run off Orioles closer Jim Johnson to tie the game at two and send it to extra innings. He later clubbed a second-deck walk-off home run to lead off the bottom of the 12th and win the game 3-2.
The clutch home runs will no doubt put Ibanez in a heralded class of Yankees postseason heroes. The bold move by Girardi paid off. And those who questioned whether Rodriguez was more focused on individual production rather than team success might have to evaluate their thinking.
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Original Story:
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October 10, 2012
