YANKEES-A’S POSTSEASON HISTORY The Yankees and Athletics have 79 playoff appearances, 55 pennants and 36 World Series championships between them, but the two franchises have met in the postseason just three times. Here’s a look at those series:
2001 ALDS: Yankees win series, 3-2
The A’s won the first two games after winning 102 games during the regular season, but Mike Mussina saved the Yankees in Game 3 with seven shutout innings with some help from Derek Jeter’s legendary flip play (left). Jorge Posada’s solo home run, one of two Yankees hits off Barry Zito, was all it took to win it. Bernie Williams’ five RBIs sparked the Yankees to a Game 4 win before they completed the comeback by cracking Mark Mulder in Game 5. Posada and Jeter both hit .444 in the series.
2000 ALDS: Yankees win series, 3-2
The road to the Subway Series began in Oakland, and though the Yankees lost both games started by Roger Clemens, they survived again. Andy Pettitte and Orlando Hernandez tossed back-to-back gems to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead before getting crushed 11-1 in Game 4. The Bombers opened up Game 5 by scoring six runs in the top of the first, then had to hang on for the 7-5 win behind 5 ¹/3 scoreless innings from Mike Stanton, Jeff Nelson, Hernandez and Mariano Rivera.
1981 ALCS: Yankees win series, 3-0
In the season shortened by the players’ strike, with division winners from each half of the season advancing to the playoffs, the Yankees didn’t waste much time taking care of the A’s. Starting pitchers Tommy John, George Frazier and Dave Righetti combined to allow one earned run over 17 2/3 innings to stifle the Rickey Henderson-led A’s. Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles drove in nine runs in the series.