-By Anthony Crupi

Ladies and gentlemen, the Bronx is freezing.

With game time temperatures dipping below the 40º F mark, Fox’ postseason MLB coverage got off to a blazing hot start Friday night, as the Yankees took Game 1 of the American League Championship Series in front of a national TV audience of 8.4 million viewers.

New York’s 4-1 win over the Angels outdrew Fox’ first game of its 2008 NLCS coverage by 9 percent, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day ratings data. Last year’s Dodgers-Phillies series opener drew 7.7 million viewers.

Friday’s game now stands as the most-watched Game 1 of a League Championship Series since 2004.

Game 2 drew 9.4 million viewers, up 88 percent versus last year’s second NLCS contest, an afternoon game which delivered 5 million viewers. Saturday night’s extra-innings contest was the most-watched Game 2 of an LCS since 2006.

Through the first two games of the series, the Yankees-Angels tilt is averaging 8.9 million viewers on FOX, an improvement of 45 percent.

In New York, Game 1 drew a 16.7/27 and Game 2 drew an 18.6/33. In Los Angeles, Game 1 drew a 9.1/19, while Game 2 notched a 10.8/23.