The Angels avoided falling in a three-game hole by beating the Yankees 5-4 in Game 3 of the ALCS on Monday night. Vladimir Guerrero hit a game-tying two-run home run in the sixth inning and Jeff Mathis hit a game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the 11th inning for the Halos.
Not to take anything away from the Angels because this was a huge win for them, but Joe Girardi screwed the pooch by taking reliever David Robertson out in the 11th after he retired the first two batters. Girardi replaced Robertson with Alfredo Aceves, who immediately gave up a single to Howie Kendrick and then the double to Mathis.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but Robertson’s location was fine and his curve was sharp, so why Girardi felt the need to take him out is perplexing. Granted, the same outcome could have happened if Girardi left Robertson in the game but it really seems like the New York skipper over managed the situation tonight.
