The New York Yankees will face off against the Baltimore Orioles in the 5th and final game of the 2012 American League Division Series.  The matchup will put an end to what has been a season-filled rivalry of epic proportions.  The two teams have now faced each other a total of 22 times this year, and each club has won 11 apiece.  The Yankees have scored 103 runs while the Orioles crossed the plate 101 times.  To top it off, four of those games (including two in the postseason) have gone into extra innings.

In a rematch from Game 1, C.C. Sabathia (15-6, 3.38 ERA) will go for the New York and Jason Hammel (8-6, 3.43 ERA) will make the start for Baltimore.  The pitching dominated series has only seen more than 3 runs scored in a game once (Yankees 5-run 9th inning of Game 1), and the elimination game will likely be no different. 

In his previous start, the workhorse Sabathia struck out seven in 8 2/3 innings and only allowing two runs, which put him at 8-4 with a 4.56 ERA lifetime in the postseason.  Although Hammel didn't fare as well as the big Yankees' lefty did in his first series start, he did pitch effectively by going 5 2/3 innings and also gave up two runs.

Although New York's Game 4 nail-biting loss puts the team's backs against the wall for Game 5, skipper Joe Girardi isn't going to panic, according to the Daily News.

"It's kind of what we've been used to the whole year.  It's been a grind the whole year; it's been a fight to stay ahead of this club the whole year.  It's pretty fitting."

CLICK HERE to watch the New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles in Game 5 of the ALDS.  Coverage will begin on Friday, Oct. 12 at 5:00 PM ET.  The winner of the matchup will go on to face the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS.

Tags: mlb television