NEW YORK — Detroit closer Jose Valverde blew a fastball by Alex Rodriguez for strike three to record the final out in the ninth inning and lift the Tigers to a 3-2 win over the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the American League Division series on Thursday.
“I don’t know how to put it into words,” Yankees captain Derek Jeter said after the season-ending loss, Reuters reported. “It’s very disappointing. You play all year to get to this point and we lost.”
Don Kelly and Delmon Young hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning to give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead to back starter Doug Fister.
Fister pitched in and out of trouble, but the Yankees were never able to get a big hit with men on base. The Yankees went 2 for 9 with men in scoring position and 0 for 4 with the bases loaded.
“We should have won,” Rodriguez told Reuters.
New York starter Ivan Nova lasted just two innings before being replaced by Phil Hughes to start the third inning. Yankees manager Joe Girardi brought starter CC Sabathia into the game to start the fifth inning. The move backfired when Sabathia gave up a run-scoring single to Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez.
Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano cut the lead to 3-1 with a upper deck home run to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Yankees added a run in the seventh when Mark Teixeira walked with the bases loaded to force home a run and cut the lead to 3-2. However, Nick Swisher struck out with the bases loaded to end the threat.
The victory sent the Tigers to the ALCS for the first time since 2006, the year they also eliminated the Yankees in the first round. Detroit plays the Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the ALCS on Saturday.
