New York Yankees set up ALCS clash with Detroit Tigers – MLB Update
C.C. Sabathia provided New York Yankees the spark they needed to overcome the inspired Baltimore Orioles’ team. Showing great composure and pressure handling abilities, Sabathia overwhelmed the Orioles’ batting line-up on Friday to set up an easy win for
his team.
Yankees’ Manager Joe Girardi will be extremely happy with what he saw from his men in a crucial Game 5 of American League Division Series. With their win, the Yankees also advanced to the AL Championship Series, where they will be facing the Detroit Tigers.
Tigers beat the Oakland Athletics in a thrilling encounter the day before. Starting pitcher Justin Verlander produced a magical performance to finish off the A’s, who fought back to level the series 2-2 after losing the first two games.
Detroit thrashed the Yankees in the ALDS last year and they find themselves in a very similar position in this year’s post-season.
"He is just a great hitter," Yankees’ starter Andy Pettitte said of Cabrera. "Obviously he doesn't have a whole lot of holes. He's got power to the opposite field, and he's got obviously pull power. So when you have got a guy like that, he's tough to get
out."
For the Yankees’ Andy Pettitte will be starting the game. The veteran starting pitcher leads the career post-season with 19 wins. Pettitte will be starting against Tigers’ starter Doug Fister, who has also looked in terrific touch over the last couple of
months.
The series between Tigers and Yankees provides an excellent platform for Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher and Ichiro Suzuki who were kept by the Orioles’ pitching rotation.
''I don't know if you can shut him down, but try to keep him from doing too much damage in the series, and that's key to us winning,'' Pettitte said.
''They are a very good club and they are a very resilient club,'' Girardi said of the Yankees. ''People thought they were going to go away, they never went away.''
Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera can also play a key role in deciding the outcome of the series. He has already won the Triple Crown Award and he will be looking to end the season on a strong note to claim the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
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