Tigers survive Yankees rally to open with win
Source: Agencies |
October 15, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Detroit Tigers withstood a ninth-inning fightback by the New York Yankees to win 6-4 in 12 innings in Saturday's opener of the American League Championship Series, while the hosts lost not only the game but captain Derek Jeter to a season-ending broken ankle.
Delmon Young doubled home the go-ahead run in the 12th to give the Tigers a valuable road win in a game it appeared they had thrown away. The situation became worse later in the inning when Jeter twisted reaching for a ground ball and had to be carried from the ground with his left ankle hanging limply.
Detroit led 4-0 entering the bottom of the ninth, but Ichiro Suzuki and Raul Ibanez both hit two-run homers off struggling Tigers closer Jose Valverde to tie the score and send the game to extra innings.
The 40-year-old Ibanez had become the unlikely hero of this postseason, having become the first man in playoff history to hit two homers in a game he didn't start when he hit the ninth-inning game-tying shot and the 12th inning winner against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 of the division series.
As both teams steadily went through their bullpen option in extra innings, it was Young who came up with the winning double in the 12th. His hit off David Phelps sailed to right field where Nick Swisher appeared to lose track of its flight, missing the catch and letting the ball past him.
Young drove in three runs for the game, hitting an RBI single in a two-run sixth against Andy Pettitte, and a solo homer in the eighth against Derek Lowe.
Tigers reliever Drew Smyly got the win by pitching two scoreless innings in what may prove an audition for the closers job after two spectacular blown saves by Valverde in these playoffs.
In Game 2, the Yankees will start Hiroki Kuroda, pitching on three days' rest for the first time in his big league career.
Delmon Young doubled home the go-ahead run in the 12th to give the Tigers a valuable road win in a game it appeared they had thrown away. The situation became worse later in the inning when Jeter twisted reaching for a ground ball and had to be carried from the ground with his left ankle hanging limply.
Detroit led 4-0 entering the bottom of the ninth, but Ichiro Suzuki and Raul Ibanez both hit two-run homers off struggling Tigers closer Jose Valverde to tie the score and send the game to extra innings.
The 40-year-old Ibanez had become the unlikely hero of this postseason, having become the first man in playoff history to hit two homers in a game he didn't start when he hit the ninth-inning game-tying shot and the 12th inning winner against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 of the division series.
As both teams steadily went through their bullpen option in extra innings, it was Young who came up with the winning double in the 12th. His hit off David Phelps sailed to right field where Nick Swisher appeared to lose track of its flight, missing the catch and letting the ball past him.
Young drove in three runs for the game, hitting an RBI single in a two-run sixth against Andy Pettitte, and a solo homer in the eighth against Derek Lowe.
Tigers reliever Drew Smyly got the win by pitching two scoreless innings in what may prove an audition for the closers job after two spectacular blown saves by Valverde in these playoffs.
In Game 2, the Yankees will start Hiroki Kuroda, pitching on three days' rest for the first time in his big league career.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
