Best Games of the 2011 Season: #15-13

by Brandon C. on Oct 19, 2011 9:00 AM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 13: Jorge Posada #20 of the New York Yankees watches his grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on August 13, 2011 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

The New York Yankees 2011 season was filled with exciting games, and I already recapped the honorable mentions of the top games of the season. Now that we are down to the top 15, let's take a look at #15-13.

15. August 13th-Yankees 9, Rays 2: Jorge Posada hits grand slam, drives in six.

A day after CC Sabathia gave up five solo home runs to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees were looking for a spark. Jorge Posada, in his first game back since being benched, provided the spark. Phil Hughes pitched six solid innings, and six of the nine starters totaled multiple hits. I remember being told Jorge hit a grand slam, and saying "yeah, right, what really happened?" Jorge would later get an even bigger hit vs. the Rays, but that will be talked about later in the top 15 series.

Jorge Posada Grand Slam Video

14. August 21st-Yankees 3, Twins 0: Curtis Granderson hits inside the park home run, Nova pitches seven shut out innings.

Alex Rodriguez' return to the Yankees lineup was overshadowed by a pair of home runs, and a fantastic pitching performance. The game winning run may have come from a Russell Martin sac fly in the sixth inning, but the most exciting play of the game was Curtis Granderson's inside the park home run in the seventh inning. Mark Teixeira, not wanting to be out done, hit a home run over the left field fence to follow Granderson. Ivan Nova won his thirteenth game of the season.

Curtis Granderson Inside the Park Home Run Video

13. April 14th-Yankees 6, Orioles 5: Posada home run ties it in ninth, Swisher sac fly wins it in tenth.

Jorge Posada's fifth home run of the season tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, as Kevin Gregg surrendered the run to the first batter he faced. In the bottom of the tenth, Mark Teixeira walked, Alex Rodriguez doubled, and Nick Swisher later hit a sacrifice fly to give the Yankees their first walk off win of the season. An important play in the game was Joba Chamberlain's block of home plate in the top of the 8th inning to keep the Yankees in the game.

Jorge Posada Home Run Video, Nick Swisher Walk-Off Winner Video

The schedule for the Best Games of 2011 Series will be Monday-Wednesday-Friday, Monday-Wednesday-Friday. So, Yankees2 will be revealing #12-10 on Friday. Thoughts?

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Comments

Are any of the most exciting games losses? If not, why?

by designatedquitter on Oct 19, 2011 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

It’s not most exciting, it’s best, and in my opinion the best games are not one that the Yankees lose.

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Writer/Editor for Pinstripe Alley, Blueshirt Banter

"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."

"Every day is a great day for hockey."

by Brandon C. on Oct 19, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'd agree with this opinion

by waw on Oct 19, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps we should specifically define 'best.'

It’s such a relative term- best for whom?

The Yankees? Baseball in general? Yankees fans?

Game #162 may not have meant much to Yankee fans, but ask baseball fans in general which were the ‘best’ games this year and that game is on the list, believe me.

by designatedquitter on Oct 19, 2011 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

To be honest

I could not care less what baseball fans in general thought of that game. The Yankees lost, and blew a seven run lead in the process. When people look back at the highlights of that game, they will see that the Yankees lost. This list is on Pinstripe Alley, a Yankees site for Yankees fans, primarily. As Yankees fans, we should never (read: should) root for the Yankees to lose.

So, the best games are the games the Yankees win.

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Writer/Editor for Pinstripe Alley, Blueshirt Banter

"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."

"Every day is a great day for hockey."

by Brandon C. on Oct 19, 2011 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions