Paul bracket: Yankees (09) defeat Yankees (69) in five games

Game One: 09 Yankees 11, 69 Yankees 5
WP: Sabathia (1-0)
LP: Stottlemyre (0-1)
HR: F Fernandez (1), Swisher (1), Al Rodriguez (1), Damon (1), Gardner (1)

Game Two: 09 Yankees 2, 69 Yankees 0
WP: Burnett (1-0)
LP: F Peterson (0-1)
Save: Rivera (1)
HR: Al Rodriguez (2)

Game Three: 09 Yankees 6, 69 Yankees 3
WP: Pettitte (1-0)
LP: Bahnsen (0-1)
Save: Rivera (2)
HR: Posada (1), Damon (2), Murcer (1)

Game Four: 69 Yankees 6, 09 Yankees 4
WP: Stottlemyre (1-0)
LP: Chamberlain (0-1)
Save: McDaniel (1)
HR: Swisher (2)

Game Five: 09 Yankees 7, 69 Yankees 0
WP: Sabathia (2-0)
LP: Downing (0-1)
HR: Swisher (3), Cano (1)


All leads were safe in this series; The first team to score not only won each game, they were never as much as tied.

The opener began as a pitchers duel. Through three innings, Mel Stottlemyre and CC Sabathia combined to yield just one hit apiece. But in the third Alex Rodriguez followed a Robinson Cano walk with a homer; in the fourth Brett Gardner and Johnny Damon hit back-to-back four-baggers; and in the fifth Nick Swisher capped a three-run inning with a solo shot. The final score was made superficially closer in the ninth when Chad Gaudin allowed four runs highlighted by a Ron Woods triple.

Game Two was a pitchers duel; Fritz Peterson went the distance for the 69 Yankees, scattering 10 hits without a walk and allowing two runs. A.J. Burnett was even better for the 09 Yankees: He allowed two safeties and two walks without allowing a run in eight innings. Mariano Rivera tossed a perfect ninth for the save. Rodriguez homered in the sixth.

Jorge Posada's first-inning three run homer in the classic Yankee Stadium staked Andy Pettitte to a quick lead, and Damon added to it with a second-inning two-run shot. The 09 Yanks scored six runs off Stan Bahnsen in the first three innings. They got no more off Ken Johnson (four innings) and Jack Aker (two) but needed none.

The '69 Yankees opened Game Four with a bid to run Joba Chamberlain out of the ballpark. Horace Clarke led off with a single, stole second, stole third and scored on Jerry Kenney's single. Kenny then stole second and third before scoring on Bobby Murcer's groundout. Later in the inning, Joe Pepitone was picked off trying for the fifth steal of the frame.

Stottlemyre, pitching on three days rest, shut out the 09 Yankees for the first six innings. He wild-pitched a run home in the seventh and gave up three straight doubles to open the eight before getting Posada to ground into an inning-ending double play. Lindy McDaniel got the save, but not before allowing a two-out homer to Swisher.

Posada, Swisher and Sabathia put an end to the 69 Yankees ambitions in Game Five. Posada smacked a three-run double in the first off Al Downing, and Swisher followed with his third homer of the series. Sabathia tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits, and Alfredo Aceves retired all six men he faced to wrap up the series.

The 09 Yankees had several contenders for player of the series honors -- Swisher, Damon, Posada, Sabathia -- but the winner was Rodriguez, who scores six runs and drove in five while going 8-for-19.

Pitcher availability: All pitchers will be fully rested for the second round.

Projected rotation: Sabathia-Burnett-Pettitte-Chamberlain-(Sabathia)-(Burnett)-(Pettitte)