Detroit Tigers conquer New York Yankees 3-2 in battle of nerves – MLB Update
The Detroit Tigers smashed back-to-back home-run in the first inning to edge past 3-2 against the New York Yankees in the all-important Game 5 on the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium in New York on Thursday, October 6 to send the AL East
Champions reeling out of the post-season.
Ivan Nova started for the Yankees in this crunch encounter after having won Game 1 of the ALDS. In this game, however, Don Kelly and Delmon Young smashed the rookie for two back-to-back home-runs in the first inning to give Detroit a thumping two-run lead
early on.
Nova could not last long in this game and left the mound after the second inning citing stiffness in right forearm. Phil Hughes and Boone Logan combined to halt the flow for the next two innings, but CC Sabathia’s monotonous spell thereafter saw the Tigers
extend their lead to three runs.
Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi, showing desperation, brought on his ace in an attempt to win the game, but things did not go as planned. Victor Martinez singled to centre-field in the fifth inning to allow Austin Jackson a run and subsequently gain a lead
which proved to be unassailable in the end.
Robinson Cano homered in the bottom of the fifth to initiate an offensive comeback, but other batters failed to compliment. Alex Rodriguez went 0-for-4 in the game to prove his falling form against top-quality pitching. He had been waiting all season to
fire in the playoffs, but when the opportunity came, he failed miserably.
Detroit’s manager Jim Leyland expressed immense happiness on this win and said, "The Yankees are so good that I would be lying if I said it didn't give me a little extra satisfaction to be able to do it here in the fifth game. This will be a game I'll remember
for the rest of my life."
The Tigers had not lost successive games since August 28-29. They lived to their reputation and subsequently improved their chances of qualifying for the World Series. The last time they overcame the Yankees in the ALDS, they went all the way through. However,
with Texas Rangers to play in the Championship Series, nothing is certain.
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