Yankees, Rays on the brink
Source: Agencies |
October 5, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
DETROIT closer Jose Valverde survived another ninth-inning scare but held his nerve to preserve the Tigers' 5-4 win over the New York Yankees on Monday, giving them the upper hand in their American League division series.
Valverde, who needed 34 pitches to subdue the Yankees in the final inning on Sunday, walked two batters in the ninth but struck out Derek Jeter for the game's final out with two New York runners on base.
The Tigers lead the series 2-1 and can eliminate the Yankees with a Game 4 win, also in Detroit, today.
"Every now and again he (makes it interesting), but we have the utmost faith in (Valverde)," Detroit ace Justin Verlander told reporters after he earned the win.
"What a job he did, especially after throwing 30-something pitches (on Sunday)."
In a rematch of two of baseball's top pitchers Verlander and CC Sabathia, who had their series-opening showdown postponed in the second inning because of rain in New York on Friday, it was the Detroit starter who picked up the win after Delmon Young broke a 4-4 tie with his home run in the seventh inning.
Verlander struck out 11 batters in eight innings, though he allowed a game-tying two-run double in the top of the seventh, to get the better of Sabathia.
New York's big left-hander never found his rhythm and gave up four runs over 5 1/3 innings with six walks.
The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the first inning but the Tigers hit back with two in the third.
Ramon Santiago put the Tigers ahead with an RBI double in the fifth and Jhonny Peralta stretched the lead to 4-2 with a run-scoring double in the sixth.
New York tied the game in the seventh on Brett Gardner's two-run double, before Young struck with a long drive against Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano, who took the loss.
In St Petersburg, Florida, Texas starter Colby Lewis pitched the Rangers into a 2-1 lead over Tampa Bay in their ALDS, with Mike Napoli crushing a two-run homer in a 4-3 victory.
The Rangers can clinch the series, and advance to the AL championship for the second consecutive year, with another win at Tropicana Field in Game 4 today.
The Rangers have now won four consecutive postseason games at the Rays' home, including three in last year's ALDS.
The Rays drew first blood when Desmond Jennings led off the fourth with a solo homer, taking Lewis over the wall in left field to bring the sellout crowd, the first at Tropicana Field since opening day, to its feet.
It would be the only hit surrendered by the right-hander, who struck out six over his six innings with a pair of walks.
Tampa Bay's All Star starter David Price had cruised through six shutout innings before the Texas batters finally came alive in the seventh.
Napoli slammed a two-run shot to deep center and Josh Hamilton drove in two more runs with a single to push the visitors ahead 4-1.
The Rays responded in typical fashion, Sean Rodriguez scoring Johnny Damon in the bottom of the same inning and Jennings slamming another homer in the eighth to narrow the Rangers' lead to 4-3.
But closer Neftali Feliz snuffed out the Rays rally by getting the final four outs to clinch the win for Texas.
Valverde, who needed 34 pitches to subdue the Yankees in the final inning on Sunday, walked two batters in the ninth but struck out Derek Jeter for the game's final out with two New York runners on base.
The Tigers lead the series 2-1 and can eliminate the Yankees with a Game 4 win, also in Detroit, today.
"Every now and again he (makes it interesting), but we have the utmost faith in (Valverde)," Detroit ace Justin Verlander told reporters after he earned the win.
"What a job he did, especially after throwing 30-something pitches (on Sunday)."
In a rematch of two of baseball's top pitchers Verlander and CC Sabathia, who had their series-opening showdown postponed in the second inning because of rain in New York on Friday, it was the Detroit starter who picked up the win after Delmon Young broke a 4-4 tie with his home run in the seventh inning.
Verlander struck out 11 batters in eight innings, though he allowed a game-tying two-run double in the top of the seventh, to get the better of Sabathia.
New York's big left-hander never found his rhythm and gave up four runs over 5 1/3 innings with six walks.
The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the first inning but the Tigers hit back with two in the third.
Ramon Santiago put the Tigers ahead with an RBI double in the fifth and Jhonny Peralta stretched the lead to 4-2 with a run-scoring double in the sixth.
New York tied the game in the seventh on Brett Gardner's two-run double, before Young struck with a long drive against Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano, who took the loss.
In St Petersburg, Florida, Texas starter Colby Lewis pitched the Rangers into a 2-1 lead over Tampa Bay in their ALDS, with Mike Napoli crushing a two-run homer in a 4-3 victory.
The Rangers can clinch the series, and advance to the AL championship for the second consecutive year, with another win at Tropicana Field in Game 4 today.
The Rangers have now won four consecutive postseason games at the Rays' home, including three in last year's ALDS.
The Rays drew first blood when Desmond Jennings led off the fourth with a solo homer, taking Lewis over the wall in left field to bring the sellout crowd, the first at Tropicana Field since opening day, to its feet.
It would be the only hit surrendered by the right-hander, who struck out six over his six innings with a pair of walks.
Tampa Bay's All Star starter David Price had cruised through six shutout innings before the Texas batters finally came alive in the seventh.
Napoli slammed a two-run shot to deep center and Josh Hamilton drove in two more runs with a single to push the visitors ahead 4-1.
The Rays responded in typical fashion, Sean Rodriguez scoring Johnny Damon in the bottom of the same inning and Jennings slamming another homer in the eighth to narrow the Rangers' lead to 4-3.
But closer Neftali Feliz snuffed out the Rays rally by getting the final four outs to clinch the win for Texas.
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