Delmon Young enters Detroit Tigers’ history – MLB Update
Not many expected Delmon Young to be Detroit Tigers’ playoff hero when the season started but this what has actually happened in Tigers’ best of seven American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees.
Young had one of the best post-season outings of his career on Saturday as he played a big part in Detroit Tigers slim 6-4 victory over the American League East Division title holders. Showing great composure and maturity, Young smacked a home-run in the
eighth inning of Game 1 to put Tigers in a commanding position.
“The first one, I was just looking for a fastball and got it,” said Young, the Tigers’ designated hitter who has had a mostly rugged year, particularly during September and October. “Put a swing on it and heard a good part of the bat hit it.”
Yankees fought back to level the score 4-4 and force the game into the extra inning but Young was not done just yet. He drove in the winning run with a searing double in the 12th, helping his team starting their ALCS campaign on a winning note.
The outfielder’s good work in the extra inning helped the Tigers cover up a mess of ninth innings created by relief pitcher Jose Valverde, who gave up back-to-back home-runs to Ichiro Suzuki and Raul Ibanez that changed the complexion of the game.
"I didn't know if it would stay high enough," he said, "because of the topspin and the hook on it."
"The line drive to right," Young explained, "first I thought it was going to hook right back to him (Swisher). I don't know what happened.”
However, Young showed nerves of steel under pressure to win the hearts of Tigers’ fans at Yankee Stadium. For his excellent effort, Young deserves a place in Tigers’ history.
Not only did he put up a strong individual performance, he also let the Tigers come out of the slump. He now has six playoff home-runs to his name, which is more than Craig Monroe and Hank Greenberg, who belong to an era when the post-season had just one
playoff game.
As the Tigers look to dominate the Yankees again in the upcoming game, all eyes will be on Young and his powerful hitting.
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