NEW YORK (AP) - It wasn't quite Reggie Jackson, but Robinson Cano was close, and just as clutch.
It was exactly 30 years ago tonight, when Reggie Jackson slugged three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series to lead the Yankees to their first World Series title in 15 years.
In Game 6 of the 2007 World Series, Cano gave his best Jackson impersonation by crushing two clutch home runs in leading the Yankees to a dramatic 4-3 win and force Game 7.
With newfound nemisis Jamie Moyer baffling the Yankees once again, Cano came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the 6th and the Yankees trailing 3-0. Derek Jeter had just broken up Moyer's no-hit bid with a double to the gap in right center. Then Cano, who was hitting just .218 entering Game 6, got an inside change up from Moyer and blasted it into the upper deck in right, bringing the Yankees close at 3-2.
Moyer was lifted at the start of the eighth inning in favor of Brett Meyers. Down to their final six outs, Robinson Cano dug in. The first pitch Meyers threw was a low-and-in two-seam fastball and Cano pummeled it, even higher and farther than his first homer. When the ball landed in the upper deck in right, the Stadium was shaking down to it's foundation.
It would only get louder two batters later, when Hideki Matsui followed suit and launched a two-out solo homer of his own to give the Yanks a 4-3 lead.
Mariano Rivera quickly got loose, came into the game and slammed the door in the 9th.
CANO LAUNCHES HIS FIRST OF TWO HOMERS
CANO'S 2-RUN HR LANDS, IT WAS THE YANKEES FIRST RUNS IN 15 INNINGS AGAINST MOYER
AT IT AGAIN: CANO TIES THE GAME ON THE FIRST PITCH IN THE 8TH
ROUNDING THE BASES WITH AN EAR-TO-EAR GRIN
MATSUI GIVES THE YANKS THE LEAD FOR GOOD
THE LAST THING THE OPPOSITION WANTS TO SEE
FINAL BOX SCORE
***PHOTO OF THE GAME***
Robinson Cano hits a game-tying solo HR in the 8th