Angels closer Brian Fuentes gave up the game-tying home run::Yankees' Top 10

Angels closer Brian Fuentes gave up the game-tying home run

Angels manager Mike Scioscia has a problem. He no longer has an established closer. Maybe that should have been obvious in the second half of the season, when his nominal closer, Brian Fuentes, had more walks (15) than strikeouts (12). Fuentes struck out seven right-handed batters after the All-Star break. Seven.
But it became most obvious in ALCS Game 2, even before Fuentes gave up the game-tying home run to Alex Rodriguez in the 11th inning. It was obvious because Scioscia wasn't even tempted to so much as warm up Fuentes in the ninth or 10th innings when the Yankees had left-handed batters at the plate and the winning run in scoring position. He elected to leave the game in the hands of Kevin Jepsen and Darren Oliver, prepared to lose without ever using his closer. They were the right moves to make, but it spoke volumes about how Fuentes is not a lockdown closer.
So what does Scioscia do about the ninth inning of Game 3 Monday if he has a one-run lead? Jepsen has much better stuff, but doesn't have the experience. Even Ervin Santana can't be ruled out as an option. Fuentes looks more and more like a situational lefty. He might get the last out, but only if it's a left-on-left matchup after some combination of Jepsen, Jason Bulger, Oliver and Santana do the heavy lifting.
The Angels owe Fuentes $10 million next year. And if he finishes 55 games (he finished 57 this year), they'll have to pay him $9 million in 2011.
Postseason baseball is as much a part of autumn in the Bronx as fall foliage, so there's no surprise that the Yankees have been involved in some of the most remarkable plays in October history. Here's our list, with apologies to Tommy Henrich, who hit the first walk-off homer in World Series history off Don Newcombe in Game 1 of the 1949 World Series, and Mickey Mantle, who hit a walk-off in Game 3 of the 1964 World Series. Both deserved spots on the list, but they were squeezed out by other amazing moments.

Player Team Innings Game
Maicer Izturis Angels 13 2009 ALCS Game 2
Dean Palmer Rangers 12 1996 ALDS Game 2
Bill Buckner Red Sox 10 1986 World Series Game 6
Pete Richert Orioles 10 1969 World Series Game 4
Stuffy McInnis Athletics 12 1914 World Series Game 3