It's time. Game One of the American League Division Playoff Series between the Detroit Tigers, champions of the AL Central with a 95-67 record, winning 30 of their last 39 games of the regular season, and the 27-time World Series Champion New York Yankees, who won the AL East with a 97-65 record, best in the American League. Tonight's and tomorrow night's games are at the new Yankee Stadium, with the teams taking Sunday off to travel to Detroit, and Monday off so as not to clash with Monday Night Football. Games three and four (if necessary) will be played at Comerica Park in Motor City. This is a best-of-five series, so if a fifth game is needed, they'll play Thursday at Yankee Stadium. The best record in the AL ensures that the Yankees will have home field advantage for the American League Championship Series as well. The National League won this year's All Star game, so they will have the advantage in the World Series.
CC Sabathia looks good, two Ks against the the first two Tiger batters on 7 pitches, with the fastball reaching mid 90s. Ouch, Delmon Young homers to right field on a low 93 mph fastball right down the middle of the plate, Tigers strike first. Miguel Cabrera grounds out to Jeter, Yankees coming to bat.
Let's see if we can't get to Verlander early. The Tiger ace was 24-5 this year, and the shoo-in for the Cy Young Award, the most dominant pitcher in baseball, even more so than the Yankees' CC Sabathia, Roy Halladay (Phillies), Ian Kennedy (Diamondbacks) and Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) the only other 19-or-more-game winners in baseball this year. Cliff Lee (Phillies) had 6 shutouts this year, James Shields (Tampa Bay) had 11 complete games and Jose Valverde (Tigers) had 49 saves.
Verlander's fastball at 92-93 mph, Jeter works the count, strikes out on a nasty breaking ball that gets away from catcher Avila and Derek Jeter hustles down to first. Safe! Three and oh to Curtis Granderson, who had 41 HRs this season for the Yankees, second in the Major Leagues to Toronto Blue Jay, Jose Bautista. Grandy walks on the three-two pitch. Robinson Cano grounds out to first, Cabrera fails to get the throw to second, takes the out at first, Jeter to third, Granderson to second, one out. Alex Rodriguez taps out to third, Jeter running on contact, scores, as Brandon Inge throws to first to retire A-Rod, two outs, Granderson to third. Mark Teixeira walks, as it starts to rain. Nick Swisher hits the first pitch, a weak ground ball to second base. End of one, score tied, one to one, Yankees score without a hit.
Victor Martinez grounds out to third, A-Rod's throw pulls Teixeira off the bag, but he makes the tag on the lead-legged Martinez. It's raining harder. Strike three to catcher Alex Avila, two down, the third K for Sabathia. Up comes Tiger 2B Ryan Raburn, as it rains even harder. Strike three, inning over, Yankees coming to bat. I hope the rain subsides, CC is in a groove. Crap, tarp is on the field, rain delay, the 24th one this year at Yankee Stadium. 7:10 PM.
So far, Sabathia 27 pitches, 20 for strikes. Verlander 25 pitches. only 14 for strikes. Due up for the Yankees in the third, DH Jorge Posada, C Russell Martin and LF Brett Gardner, one of the fastest white guys in baseball.
Stay tuned for part two.........
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