A clash of pitchers, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers meet for suspended game – MLB Playoffs
After a 9-3 win on Saturday, October 1 and receiving a 5-3 loss on Sunday, October 2 at Yankee Stadium, the American League Champions New York Yankees will now fly to Michigan to play the game that was suspended on Friday night after just over an inning
due to rain.
A much-waited war between Justin Verlander and Carsten Charles Sabathia will be alive under lights on Monday, October 3. The result of an important third outing will decide which team will have the dominating position after the crucial match-up.
"It's definitely disappointing," said Sabathia, "It looked like it was going to be a good game."
Not only Sabathia considered this game as the most important but also his manager and team-mates know the value of the third outing.
Manager Joe Girardi stated that the third outing has always been an important one in the playoffs. Yankees history to lose the second game has created real trouble for Girardi, who has shown full confidence over his winning pitcher.
Yankees’ first baseman Mark Teixeira, who had only 1-for-7 in the American League Division Series and has a .221 average in Detroit, said, "It's huge. Tomorrow's a really big game. You don't want to go down 2-1 with them having a chance to close it out at
their home park."
Sabathia has gone 19-8 this season and 230 strike-outs while he topped the AL East with a 3.00 ERA. Overall he is second in AL wins after the Justin Verlander, who is leading the League with a 24 wins and 250 strike-outs.
Before the suspension of the Friday’s game, Sabathia led the outing with two innings, including a no-hitter second in which he managed to reduce his ERA to 4.50. In his two innings, Sabathia received a homer and struck-out four batters with a 0.50 WHIP.
"I feel pretty good, played light catch yesterday," Sabathia said. "I'm ready to go."
Verlander, on the other hand being the most probable AL Cy Young Award winner, led the Majors with 24 wins and 250 strike-outs. Home ground advantage will also add positive notes for Verlander, who has a 10-3 record with a 2.37 ERA in 16 home games this
season.
28-year-old right-hand ball thrower had pitched one inning and given away one run while striking-out two batters and still to open the bottom of the second inning.
His 4-3 record with a 3.97 ERA against New York expressed his struggling position against the club, but his overall performance matched with the home ground will be an edge the Tigers will have in the crucial third outing of the series. Detroit has lost
the last three outings against the Yankees and two of them are in this season. This record can go against the top hurler Verlander, who has ability to fight-back in a devastating manner.
Like the spectators, many players are also waiting the clash of the two giants. The Yankees’ Curtis Granderson thinks this match-up will be one of the most entertaining games of the season.
"It should be a fun one to see (Verlander and Sabathia) go to work against each other," Granderson said.
As the Tigers have a home ground advantage and a psychological advantage of the previous win, the Yankees’ batting will have to provide the best back up to Sabathia to clinch a lead in the five game series.
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