2001 ALDS, Game 3: Yankees at A’s

New York Yankees 1 at Oakland A’s 0, F — With their backs against the wall for the first time since 1997, the Yankees traveled to Oakland one loss away from elimination. A’s starter Barry Zito stifled the Yanks through four innings, until Jorge Posada belted a solo homer in the fifth. Mike Mussina also pitched a gem, the key turning point coming on a bang-bang play in the bottom of the 7th, when Terrence Long drilled a ball into the right field corner. Yankee right fielder Shane Spencer fielded and threw toward the plate, where Jeremy Giambi was trying to score from first without sliding. Shortstop Derek Jeter, up the first base line, cut the throw off and executed a backhanded flip to Posada, who tagged Giambi out, 9-6-2. The eye-popping play preserved the lead, ended the inning, and turned the Series momentum the Yankees’ way.