ANAHEIM -- On the evening the Yankees became baseball's first team to finalize a playoff entry, they were presented with a refresher course of just how emotional and gratifying the next month could be.
The Yankees' return to the postseason after a one-year hiatus was secured off-site, but their thrilling 6-5 victory over the Angels on Tuesday made it all the more satisfying, as they took it upon themselves to rewrite an Angel Stadium script that has become tired.
Using the long ball to open up a five-run lead with three home runs, the Yankees earned their first win in Anaheim this season by switching things up with some ninth-inning speed. Brett Gardner singled, stole second on a pitch-out, moved up on a bunt and came home with the eventual winning run on an Alex Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
"These are big games for us," Gardner said. "Tonight definitely felt like a playoff game. This is pretty high intensity, a pretty good environment -- a big win for us, and I think that tonight is going to be a lot like how the playoffs are, no matter if we're playing the Angels or whoever."
