海角大神

The Yankees鈥� future in post-season play is now in the right hand of A.J. Burnett, after Cliff Lee and the Texas Rangers spanked the "Bronx Bombers" 8-0 on Monday night in the third game of the American League Championship Series.

For the Yankees, that is a scary 鈥� almost a Halloween type of proposition 鈥� because Burnett has been one of the worst pitchers in the American League in the second half of the season.

He lost the last six of his regular season games and compiled a 5.83 earned run average 鈥� well above his past efforts. He is now greeted with boos when he walks to the mound in his home stadium.

Burnett says he is not paying attention to any of the adverse comments about his performance. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 dig into it too much, but I do go off with everyday people that I meet at breakfast and lunch and stuff and it鈥檚 been nothing but positive towards me.鈥�

So far, he鈥檚 getting warm and fuzzy thoughts from his manager, as well. 鈥淲e all know what A.J. can dial up, and we believe in him,鈥� says Joe Girardi, the Yankee manager, who reaffirmed on Monday night that Burnett would be pitching. But with the Yankees down two games to one in the American League Championship Series, Girardi is expected to temper his belief with a quick hook if Burnett gets into trouble.

One positive thing for the Yankees on Wednesday is that they will not be facing Cliff Lee, the Texas southpaw who struck out 13 Yankee batters and gave up only two hits. Instead, they come up against Tommy Hunter, a young pitcher who does not have the same repertoire as Lee.

Lee, in a dominant performance, pitched eight shutout innings Monday night, striking out 13. He gave up only two hits, keeping the Yankees from becoming any kind of threat. He changed speeds, fooling hitters, and consistently kept his pitches away from the middle of the plate.

鈥淐liff was great tonight, to say the least. He was just outstanding,鈥� said Andy Pettitte, the losing pitcher for the Yankees. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 seen too many games like that.鈥�

Lee says he is just doing what he has done all year. 鈥淚 throw strikes, I see how they swing and make adjustments on the fly,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a game of never ending adjustments. That鈥檚 the game.鈥�

Pettitte became the losing pitcher after giving up a home run to Texas slugger Josh Hamilton with a man on base. 鈥淚t was a bad pitch by me,鈥� he said.

That home run, said Lee, helped give him confidence. 鈥淪ome runs in the first is huge. It sets the tone early,鈥� he said.

Most of the rest of the Texas runs came late in the game when the Yankee bullpen imploded, giving up six runs.

But it was the Yankee offense that was stifled. Their only hits were a bloop single by Jorge Posada and a solid single by Brett Gardner, who then stole second base.

Girardi says he鈥檚 confident his team will resume its winning ways. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a good club,鈥� he said in the postgame press conference. 鈥淵ou play a good game tomorrow and you feel a little different.鈥�