Game two of the American League Championship Series continued last night in New York, as the Yankees hosted the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at New Yankee Stadium.

A night after CC Sabathia dominated the Angels offense with a stellar pitching performance the Yankees looked to gain another victory in front of their hometown crowd for a 2-0 series lead.

Today I continue my “Stars” column, which I plan on contributing to throughout the entire MLB playoffs as often as I possibly can.

In my last article related to this column, I listed New York Yankees stud pitcher CC Sabathia, as well as future hall of famer Pedro Martinez as my stars of the day.

Today I have made a new selection.

Keep in mind this is my personal opinion only.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim @ New York Yankees Game 2 (Yankees lead Angels 1-0)

Alex Rodriguez

For the second time this postseason Alex Rodriguez has been awarded my star of the day honour, the first time I have awarded it to the same player twice.

Rodriguez who has been tabbed as a “choke artist” come playoff time, has quieted all of his critics this season winning ball games single handed with his offensive approach.

Last night Rodriguez showed all the “naysayers” that he can perform under the pressure of the postseason yet again.

The Angels and Yankees battled back and forth through the complete nine innings of baseball and wound up tied at a score of 2-2 with extra innings approaching.

The game was a heated battle between two very cold ball clubs, which saw everything from exciting pitching to clutch hitting.

The most clutch hit of them all came at the hands of Rodriguez.

In the top of the eleventh inning the game looked to be over for the Yankees as the Angels manufactured a game leading third run, allowing them to send American League saves leader Brian Fuentes to the mound in the bottom of the inning.

In the bottom of the eleventh inning ahead in the count 0-2, Fuentes made a huge mistake to Rodriguez who took the ball to the opposite field in right. The ball barely cleared the right field fence confusing all players including Rodriguez of the outcome. The ball was clearly a home run ball as the umpires signalled such, allowing Rodriguez to trot around the bases for the tying run.

In the bottom of the thirteenth inning the Yankees struck once again as Jerry Hairston Jr got aboard with a lead off single, as he pinch hit for Freddy Guzman, who had pinch run for Hideki Matsui earlier in the contest. Brett Gardner would sacrifice Hairston over to second. An intentional walk was than given to Robinson Cano, putting Melky Cabrera at the plate with a chance to win the game.

Win the game is kind of what he did, albeit in an odd manner.

Cabrera would hit the ball into the gap between first and second base, the ball was gobbled up by second baseman Maicer Izturis, who in an awkward manner tried to heave the ball to second base for a double play, rather than get the easy out at the first.

Big mistake by Izturis as the ball sailed wide of shortstop Erick Aybar in the direction of Angels third baseman Chone Figgins, Figgins would bobble the ball allowing Hairston Jr to scamper home for the game winning run and a Yankee come from behind victory.

Errors, bad defense, calls not going his way. Mike Scioscia must be going crazy this postseason managing the Angels.

The home run by Rodriguez saved the Yankees from extra inning defeat against one of the games premier closers, as well as giving the momentum to a Yankee team who used it wisely, gaining another win and a 2-0 series lead.

This is why Rodriguez is my star of the day.

The American League Championship Series will move from the bitter cold rain of the east coast in New York to the warm sunshine of Anaheim as the series home park will switch.

The Angels will host the Yankees in game three of the series beginning Monday at an odd 4:13pm EST.

The Angels send Jered Weaver to the mound to square off against veteran Yankees starter Andy Pettitte.

The National League Championship Series will continue tonight as the Philadelphia Phillies travel home to Citizens Bank ballpark to go head to head with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tonight’s pitching match up will feature Phillies left hander Cliff Lee against the Dodgers Japanese import right hander Hiroki Kuroda.

The game begins at 8:07pm EST.