A Most Improbable Walk-off Win

In a game that featured a dramatic Hideki Matsui home run and a failure by Mariano Rivera to keep the score tied, in the end, it was a dropped fly ball that made all the difference...

Here's how the improbable bottom of the 9th inning unfolded:

Facing K-Rod, Brett Gardner led off and fouled out...With one out Jeter singled...Johnny Damon pinch hit for Nick Swisher and struck out--Jeter stole second...

With Jeter at 2nd, Teixeira came to the plate and after he had worked the count to 3 balls and no strikes he was given an intentional pass...

Alex Rodriguez came up to the plate and on a 3-1 pitch popped up to the 2nd base side of short right field...

An out Luis Castillo never recorded...

Instead, he dropped the ball!

Both Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira scored on the play--the Yankees won, yet again, at home on a walk-off, although never one like this...

And so the Yanks take the first game in the subway series against the Mets...

Additional Notes:

Joba Chamberlain labored mightily, barely making it through 4 innings--he tossed 100 pitches in those few innings...

The bullpen of Tomko and Robertson struggled--more so Tomko...

In addition to Matsui, Cano, Teixeira and Jeter all homered as well...

Tomorrow, Andy Pettitte takes the hill...

Let's Go Yanks!!!!

ESPN.com has Friday night's box score and video highlights: