Once the fans finished giving Jason Giambi his Bronx Cheer greeting last night, a real baseball game broke out.

These two teams have changed dramatically up and down the lineup, but the in the end it was Mariano Rivera against Greg Myers with the game on the line.

Guess how it unfolded?The ninth inning was vintage A’s and Yankees. Last October, these teams battled through the late innings of every playoff game.

Heck, even in August, Jason Giambi gave the fans a major thrill when he took Mike Stanton deep in the ninth inning, to win a dramatic Sunday game for the A’s.

So, it was no surprise when the A’s rallied in the eighth inning, that Joe Torre got Rivera up in case he needed him. Torre does this with Rivera, flash to game seven of the Series against the Diamondbacks when Rivera came in the eighth, only to let the game and the Series get away in the ninth.

Now, for the final frame. Yanks up 2-1. Rivera in the game.

Dave Justice drew a leadoff walk in the ninth. Rivera went 2-0 on Eric Chavez. The fans saw good things ahead. Rivera looked as if he has yet to find the command of his cut fastball, which will someday put him in the Hall of Fame.

Rivera even at less than 100% is still the best reliever in baseball, he came back and struck the A’s thirdbaseman out on a 3-2 fastball away.

Next, Miguel Tejada who had homered earlier in the game off El Duque, for the A’s only run, stepped in against the righty.

Great at bat, deep in the count, the A’s way. Rivera reared back and threw a great cutter, up and in to Tejada, right on his fists. Pop up just behind shortstop to short leftfield.

The crowd sighed, but they still hadn’t given up the hope that this night would be the one when the A’s would finally get to Rivera.

With the hope of a magical finish still in the air, Terrance Long lined a single to right, Justice easily going into third with the potential tying run.

Long has become a thorn in the side of the Yankees. They still haven’t forgotten the two homers in game one of the ALDS last year, nor the double off Mike Mussina which led to the infamous, “Slide, Jeremy, Slide” fiasco in game three.

Had he done it again? Now the place was rocking.

Long’s clutch hit, set up the final confrontation of the night between Sunday’s home run hero, Greg Myers and the erstwhile Rivera.

Myers, they say is a dead red hitter. Show him a fast ball and he’ll crush it. Just ask Anaheim’s Troy Percival.

Myers fouled off Rivera’s nastiest 93 MPH cut fastballs. The veteran ran the count to 3-2. Long was off at first on the payoff pitch.

Rivera went to the well for his running fastball. He got it just where he wanted it. Tough on Myers’ hands. Pop up to third. Robin Ventura squeezed it, game over.

The crowd sat for a minute and then filed out knowing it had seen another one of the classic A’s – Yankees battles of the twenty first century.

New line ups. Ventura, Rondell White, John Vander Wal, Nick Johnson for the New Yorkers. Justice, Scott Hatteberg, Carlos Pena for the A’s.

However, when you look for the story of this game, the names that made the difference are the familiar ones.

El Duque at his best against Oakland. Tim Hudson matching pitching’s version of Mr. October, pitch for pitch. Jorge Posada homering against the A’s staff, Rivera closing the game, Art Howe and Joe Torre nose to nose, and yes, Jason Giambi getting the hit that started the winning rally.

Only this time, he did it for the Yankees. How sad for Oakland.

Suddenly, when the game ended, the booing of the former Athletic MVP seemed so trivial in light of the excellent game just completed.

Tonight, Jason should get the respect he deserves.

He still is a great baseball player and he has come home.