New York Yankees ready to face Detroit Tigers’ ace Justin Verlander – MLB Update
Having lost the first two games of their best of seven American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees find themselves stuck in a miserable slump.
Tigers held their nerve to secure a narrow 6-4 win in the opener. Anibal Sanchez pitched seven shut-out innings in Game 2 to make quick work of Yankees’ batting line-up in Game 2, leaving them in a 0-2 hole. New York now head to Detroit down 2-0 in the ALCS.
Manager Joe Girardi will be expecting his men to fight back in Game 3 to keep the series alive but the Yankees must face one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball; Justin Verlander.
"At any moment, things can turn around," said Raul Ibanez, the most productive Yankees’ hitter in the playoffs.
Tigers’ ace Verlander will be starting at Comerica Park on Tuesday evening and the Yankees must a find way to beat him to prolong their season.
Girardi and company have failed collectively, hitting just 2.05 in seven playoffs games so far. Since their post-season 7-2 triumph against the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees have managed to score only 13 runs in six games.
"It's a fun challenge," Yankees’ first baseman Mark Teixeira said in a post game interview.
He added, "People think we're crazy for saying that but if you want to win the World Series you have to beat the best, and he's definitely the best right now."
The biggest disappointment for the Yankees has been Robinson Cano, who has just two hits in 32 post season at-bats with a poor 0.63 average. Cano was the team’s best hitter during the post-season and his struggles on the plate will certainly add to Yankees’
problems.
"This is baseball. Things turn in a matter of a heartbeat," said Curtis Granderson.
"Expectations are high here and when you don't perform you hear about it," said Swisher after Yankees’ painful loss to the Tigers.
Giardi will be hoping their fortune changes sooner than later. However, considering the Yankees are without Derek Jeter, who suffered an ankle injury in series opener, it will be extremely difficult for them to find a way back into the series against ace
Justin Verlander.
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