Tigers blaze into series deadlock with Yankees
Justin Verlander overpowered Alex Rodriguez with 100 mph heat. Joel Zumaya topped that, his fastball whizzing by at 102.
The New York Yankees never saw what was coming, and the Detroit Tigers headed home with a split.
Verlander and Detroit’s bullpen held down New York’s mighty offense, Curtis Granderson’s go-ahead triple off Mike Mussina capped a comeback, and Detroit beat the Yankees 4-3 Thursday to leave them tied at one game apiece in their best-of-5 American League divisional playoff series.
“There’s a lot of people doubting us,” Zumaya said. “A lot of people don’t expect the Tigers to come out and play as good as we did. We have to prove ourselves and, obviously, we proved it a little bit today.”
Verlander, like Zumaya one of Detroit’s rookie sensations, pitched in and out of trouble for 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and four walks. He gave his only runs on Johnny Damon’s fourth-inning homer, which put New York ahead 3-1.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland then made the unusual move to pull him with a runner on, one out and a 1-1 count on Robinson Cano. Jamie Walker came in, threw two balls, and induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Cardinals 2, Padres 0
Not even San Diego native David Wells could save the Padres, who appear to be headed for their same ol’ postseason fate against St. Louis.
Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds hit RBI singles off Wells in the fourth and Jeff Weaver held the popgun Padres in check to lead the Cardinals to a win at Petco Park in San Diego and a 2-0 lead in the National League division series.
San Diego has lost nine straight postseason games.
Pujols got three more hits after homering in a 5-1 win in Game 1. Weaver and four relievers combined on a four-hitter. The Padres have 10 hits in the first two games and are 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Mets 4, Dodgers 1
Tom Glavine tossed six shutout innings and host New York scratched out enough runs to beat Los Angeles for a 2-0 lead in their N.L. playoff series.
Jose Reyes drove in two runs from the leadoff spot, 48-year-old pinch-hitter Julio Franco hustled to beat out a double-play ball for an RBI, and Billy Wagner earned his second straight save.
Two days earlier, the East champions lost Orlando Hernandez to a calf injury – leaving him on the sidelines with ace Pedro Martinez all postseason. But now, they’re one win from the league championship series.