The Angels won 7-6, marking the 12th game decided by one run in this year’s playoffs (including the one-game playoff between the Twins and Tigers).
The Wall Street Journal did the math, and even if there isn’t another one-run game this year, 2009 is on pace to be the closest postseason since 1991.
According to the Journal, here are the numbers:
Year No. of one-run games Percentage
1972 11 64.7
1991 11 57.9
2009 12 50
1974 6 46.2
1988 7 43.8
1990 11 42.9
The number could climb even higher, given that three of the games between the Yankees and Angels have been decided by a single run. Also, if the Yankees advance to the World Series to face Philadelphia, those games could be just as close. In three games this season, the Phillies and Yankees had two games determined by a single run.
