By Jim Scott
DNAinfo Associate Editor
MANHATTAN — The road back to the World Series for the New York Yankees is blocked by a familiar nemesis.
Having been dispatched by the Anaheim Angels in the first round of the playoffs in 2002 and 2005, the Yankees will play them for the first time in the American League championship series Friday night at Yankee Stadium — weather permitting.
The Yankees swept Minnesota to reach the ALCS for the first time in five years after missing the playoffs last season.
Alex Rodriguez knocked the cover off the ball against the Twins, batting .455 (5 for 11) with two homers and six RBIs. That’s a total turnaround from his performance against the Angels in the 2005 division series when he was 2 for 15 with no RBIs and six walks.
Skipper Joe Girardi is going to send ace CC Sabathia to the mound to start Game 1. Sabathia has not pitched well in his career against the Angels, going 5-7 with a 4.72 ERA in 14 starts, including an 0-2 mark with a 6.08 ERA this season.
Sabathia was brilliant in his first playoff start for New York. The hefty lefty held the Twins to one run and struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings of the Yankees 7-2 win over Minnesota in Game 1 of the ALDS.
Sabathia could get as many three starts in the best-of-seven matchup.
“Maybe we’re going to face CC seven times this series,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia told the Associated Press. “It depends on how much rain we get.”
Friday’s gametime forecast called for light rain, a 41-degree temperature and 15-20 mph wind that would make it feel as if it were 25, according to AccuWeather.com.
“Yankee weather,” said New York catcher Jorge Posada. “It seems like every time we come home it’s been raining.”
John Lackey pitches for the Angels, who won their fifth AL West title in six seasons under Scioscia and then swept wild-card Boston in the division series.
Sabathia is prepared to pitch Game 4 on three days rest in Anaheim next week, allowing the Yankees to go with a three-man rotation that would keep Joba Chamberlain and Chad Gaudin in the bullpen. Sabathia made his final four starts for Milwaukee last year on short rest.
New York had the best record in the major leagues during the regular season at 103-59, and the Angels were second at 97-65. The teams split 10 games.
