New York Yankees 1 — Detroit Tigers 2
Justin Verlander pitches a gem in tonight’s 2-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Phil Hughes started tonight’s game and appeared to be on his way to a quality outing. As Yankees fans have become accustomed to, Phil Hughes gave up a home run in the 4th inning. To lead off the 4th, Delmon Young went deep to left field as the 2nd in 2 postseason games that Hughes started. Hughes would walk the next batter before the trainer would come out with manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild to see Hughes. They would determine that their starting pitcher was injured in what was later revealed to be a stiff back. Hughes would last just 3 innings and would pitch to 2 batters in the 4th before exiting. The bullpen would need to put together the remaining innings. After a smooth 4th inning for David Phelps, an error and a stolen base would put the Yankees rookie in a difficult spot. Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera would come to bat with a runner in scoring position and would cash-in with a double to center field, over the head of Curtis Granderson to put the Tigers ahead 2-0. Clay Rapada, Cody Eppley, Boone Logan, and Joba Chamberlain would piece together 4 innings. Notably, Boone Logan pitched 2.1 scoreless innings.
The Yankees had a tough task facing reigning Cy Young and MVP award winner Justin Verlander down 2-0 in the series. Through 8 innings, only one Yankee would get two hits, Ichiro Suzuki. The 9th inning for Verlander would include two battles and his eventual exit. To lead off the 9th inning, Eduardo Nunez would put up a 9-pitch at-bat that would result in the third hit of the game and the first run for the Yankees. Nunez would take Verlander deep to left field to cut the 2-run deficit in half. An 8-pitch at-bat by Brett Gardner would end Verlander’s night at 8.1 innings on 132 pitches. Former Yankee Phil Coke would come in for the final 2 outs and he would make it interesting. With 2 outs, Mark Teixeira would hit a single to center field. Robinson Cano would end his postseason record, 0 for 29 skid with a single to the opposite field, putting the tying run at 2nd base. Postseason hero Raul Ibanez would come up to face the left-handed reliever and would fight off fastball after fastball until he got the count full but would flail at a curveball tailing away and strikeout to end the game and put the Yankees one loss closer to elimination.
Win – Justin Verlander (1-0)
Loss – Phil Hughes (0-1)
Save – Phil Coke (2)
Notables
Yankees
*Eduardo Nunez – 1 for 3, R, Solo Home Run (1) in the 9th, RBI (1)
*Ichiro Suzuki – 2 for 4
Tigers
*Delmon Young – 1 for 3, R, BB, Solo Home Run (2) in the 4th, RBI (5)
*Miguel Cabrera – 1 for 3, 2B, RBI (2)
Current series: Tigers lead 3-0
