Yanks, Angels parade best hurlers, batters in AL duel

LOS ANGELES – The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels come into their American League championship series on highs after sweeping opponents in the opening round of the Major League Baseball playoffs.

The matchup has all the components of a classic series with two explosive offenses and pitching rotations that will put up a good fight.

Yankees ace CC Sabathia will go against Angels flamethrower John Lackey in Game 1 Friday at the new Yankee Stadium.

Lackey also started the opening game for the Angels in the last series against Boston, leading them to a 5-0 victory. The Angels went on to sweep Boston in the best-of-five series.

“It’s a fun atmosphere, for sure,” Lackey said. “It’s the same as the last round. It helps to win the first game, but the importance is probably a little bit less in a seven-game series, especially being on the road. It’ll be a challenge the whole series. They’re a great team.”

Joe Saunders will start Saturday’s Game 2 for the Angels in New York while Jered Weaver and Scott Kazmir will start games three and four in Anaheim.

The Yankees say they are considering going with a three-man rotation which would mean a shortended rest for Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte.

Now the hard part starts for both teams. New York is searching for its elusive 27th World Series title while the Angels are playing with heavy hearts following the death of their rising star pitcher Nick Adenhart who was killed in a motor vehicle smash in April.

Anaheim won its third straight AL West crown with 97 wins as they became the first team to boast 11 batters with 50 RBIs in a season.

They are just a solid on defense, committing a team record low 85 errors.

New York is stacked with power and future hall of famers like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez.

“When he’s going the other way, hitting line drives over the wall, that’s when you know he’s going good,” Angels pitcher Scott Kazmir said of A-Rod.

Rodriguez has had good success against the Angels in the past, batting .328 with 67 home runs and 151 RBIs against Los Angeles in 667 career at-bats.

“He’s good, but you can’t focus on one guy in that lineup. They’re too deep,” Lackey said. “You’ve got to keep guys off base in front of him and limit some damage.” 

The Yankees are hoping a new stadium and all the cash they doled out in the off season to beef up their lineup will translate into their first appearance in the World Series since 2003 and first championship in nine years.

Throughout this post-season, the Angels have repeatedly saluted their fallen teammate Adenhart, allegedly killed by a drunk driver on April 9.

His jersey hangs in the dugout at every game and his locker remains as it was in the corner of the dressing room at Angel Stadium.

When the Angels clinched the AL West, the players celebrated with the jersey, dousing it in champagne before heading out to the outfield wall to pour more bubbly over a giant poster of Adenhart.              (AP)