Game Two of the ALCS - Tigers @ Yankees 4:00 GDT

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4:00 P.M. Sunday, October 14, 2012
Game Two of the ALCS

The Detroit Tigers lead the series 1-0

DETROIT TIGERS
VS
NEW YORK YANKEES

DET Anibal Sanchez (9-13, 3.86) Hiroki Kuroda (16-11, 3.32)

____________________________________________

REMAINING SCHEDULE

http://www.sportshoopla.com/forums/...13-game-one-alcs-tigers-yankees-8-00-gnt.html Detroit won 6-4 (12 innings)
http://www.sportshoopla.com/forums/...alcs-tigers-yankees-4-00-gdt.html#post2443331 - TBS
Game 3 - NYY @ DET - Tue, Oct 16 - 4:00 P.M. - TBS
Game 4 - NYY @ DET - Wed, Oct 17 - 8:00 P.M. - TBS
*Game 5 - NYY @ DET - Thur, Oct 18 - 4:00 P.M. - TBS
*Game 6 - DET @ NYY - Sat, Oct 20 - 8:00 P.M. - TBS
*Game 7 - DET @ NYY - Sun, Oct 21 - 8:00 P.M. - TBS

* If Necessary

​

 

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ALCS NEWS

The Yankees had to tinker with its lineup for Sunday's Game 2 | MLB.com: News

NEW YORK -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi had to tinker with his lineup for Sunday's Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Tigers, in the wake of Derek Jeter's season-ending ankle injury on Saturday night.

After Jeter fractured his left ankle in the 12th inning of the Yankees' Game 1 defeat, Girardi's first postseason lineup card without his captain featured Ichiro Suzuki in the leadoff spot. Suzuki has started more than 1,700 Major League games at No. 1 in the order, but only three times since coming to the Yankees via trade on July 23.

Jayson Nix got the nod at shortstop against Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez and will bat ninth. The 30-year-old Nix made 15 starts at shortstop during the regular season and in Game 4 of the Division Series against Baltimore, when Jeter was the designated hitter.

Despite his 2-for-19 postseason slump, Alex Rodriguez remained in the lineup at third base, batting sixth.

Among other changes, Girardi had Robinson Cano batting second for the first time this season and the first time in his postseason career. Cano has started 70 games in that spot overall, but none since 2010 and only 14 since 2005.

Cano was followed by Mark Teixeira, the red-hot Raul Ibanez and Russell Martin. Following Rodriguez was another struggling star in Curtis Granderson, then Nick Swisher and Nix. Righty Hiroki Kuroda will be on the mound.

 

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ALCS NEWS

Tigers manager Jim Leyland turns to committee to close games | MLB.com: News

NEW YORK -- Jose Valverde is still the Tigers' closer, at least in title. For now, however, manager Jim Leyland said he's going with a bullpen by committee.

"[Valverde] is the closer, but I will not close with him today," Leyland said, "and I'll look at it and see how things play out, see how we feel about [his] work with [pitching coach Jeff Jones], see if we feel he's ready to get back into that situation. So that basically sums it up."

Leyland revealed the news on Sunday morning, hours after meeting into the wee hours at Yankee Stadium with club officials -- including team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski and the coaching staff.

The way Leyland carefully chose his words revealed the balance he was trying to strike -- trying to stay loyal to the closer who saved 52 games for him last year between the regular season and playoffs, while still doing what needed to be done after two disastrous outings in the last three days.

He still calls Valverde the team's closer. For now, however, and for an indefinite stretch, he is not closing.

"If I have to mix and match for a longer period of time, I'll do that," Leyland said. "A committee, whatever you want to call it."

Among the other closing options at Leyland's disposal are setup man and occasional fill-in closer Joaquin Benoit, who has thrown strikes but has been prone to the long ball; and Octavio Dotel, a former closer at several stops who had a few chances this year when Valverde and Benoit rested.

For lefties, the Tigers have Phil Coke, who ended up in a handful of save situations last year. At this point, any one of them are an option.

"I'm not going to sit here and say I have a temporary, full-time closer, because I do not," Leyland said.

Healthwise, Leyland said, Valverde is fine. Effectiveness, of course, is another story.

"It looks to me like he's kind of waiting for something bad right now," Leyland said.

Confidence, not stuff, is what Valverde thrives on. For Leyland to essentially say Valverde is short on it, is major.

"I may totally be misreading that, but that's what I just believe, watching the body language," Leyland said. "I'm sure he's going to say different, and I guess I hope he does. But that's just what it looks like to me."

Leyland took exception to the idea that Valverde's velocity was the problem, pointing out that Valverde hasn't thrown 95-96 mph all year.

 

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Tigers go down in order.

 

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Yankees put two men on with 2 out.

 

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OH! Sanchez with a behind-the-back catch to end the inning.

 

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Wow, Berry misread that ball in left but his speed allowed him to catch a ball saving at least a run.

Top of the third coming up.

 

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Kuroda has a no-hitter through 3 innings. Thought somebody should say it.

 

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Now it's a no-hitter through 4 innings.

 

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No-hitter.

 

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...


































No-hitter!

 

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Ibanez gunned down at second by Avila. Wooo!

 

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No hitter through 5.

Pretty sure he's under 60 pitches, too. So much for capitalizing on a tired NY bullpen.

 

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0-0, top of the 6th.

Sanchez staying with Kuroda step-for-step. A 3-hitter and a no-hitter goin' in New York.

 

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Peralta with a basehit snaps 5 hitless innings.

 

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Sanchez error...Ichiro leadoff-man on for NYY in the bot 6th.

 

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NYY leave a man on third base. 0-0, top of the seventh due up.

Who will blink first?

 

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Berry with a leadoff double!

Come on, boys...bring him home!

 

[gobigred]

Tigers take 1-0 lead

 

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Tigers take 1-0 lead

First blood.

That's really important. More pressure on the Yankees. Today is damn near a must-win for them. They don't want to go to Detroit down 2-0 in the series and facing Verlander in Game 3.