Angels 5, Yankees 4: It will be impossible to avoid all the Joe Girardi criticism today, but most of it will be deserved. If Joe Torre appears at times to be asleep at the wheel, Girardi just can’t help himself from doing too much. In the bottom of the 11th, after David Robertson retired the first two batters he faced, Girardi removed him in favor of Alfredo Aceves, also a righty and whom he’s had a boner for all season.

The move was puzzling, considering Howie Kendrick was 1-for-2 lifetime against Robertson and had never faced Aceves. What followed was a single, a double and a walk-off celebration that spun into the outfield. While everyone’s busy taking shots at Girardi, Nick Swisher should not be lost in the mix, as he could not get a runner in from third with less than two out in both the second and fourth innings. And let’s not forget the inexplicable meatball Pettitte threw right down the middle to Vlad Guerrero that tied things up in the seventh. Horrific loss all around for the Yankees. Suddenly, we have a series. [Ed. Maybe the West Coast will finally tune in.]

Phillies 5, Dodgers 4: Well this series is over. What else can the Dodgers do? They had a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning with two out and Jonathan Broxton on the mound. Then Jimmy Rollins happened. Up until that point, he had just three hits in the series. But the most shocking part of this game may have been George Sherrill escaping sure doom in the eighth after hitting a batter and walking the next, to face Ryan Howard. After working out of that, you had to feel better about their chances, considering Broxton was coming on for the four-out save. Bud Selig, and clearly MLB.com, must have been delighted we were about to enjoy a lengthy, competitive NLCS. It was not to be. Heartbreaking loss for Dodgers. Instead of being tied 2-2 and definitely heading back to Chavez Ravine this weekend, this one ends on Thursday night.

[Images via here and here.]