Yankees Force ALDS Game 5 with 10-1 Punishment of Tigers

The Detroit Tigers put Rick Porcello on the hill for Game 4 in the hopes that he would get the job done and send the New York Yankees packing for the offseason.

Instead, the Yanks took advantage of a couple of the 22-year-old pitcher's mistakes before busting the game wide open off the relief corps for a 10-1 victory to force Game 5 of their American League Division Series.

Derek Jeter drilled a 1-0 slider for a two-run double in the third inning before Curtis Granderson, who made a spectacular catch with the bags juiced in the first, crushed one for an RBI double in the fifth to give New York an early lead. Then they kicked the door in with a six-run eighth inning off relievers Al Albuquerque and Daniel Schlereth.

While Yankees starter A.J. Burnett sucked pretty much all season, he did what he had to do against the Tigers, who wasted opportunities with runners in scoring position the entire game. They failed to get a hit with men on four separate times, in fact.

The two teams will meet again Thursday in the Bronx for the deciding contest at 8:07pm ET on TBS. This marks the first postseason series for Detroit that will go the maximum number of games since 1972 when the Tigers lost at home to the Oakland Athletics in Game 5 of the ALCS.

[The Detroit News]

CC Sabathia Struggles in Game 3 Loss to Tigers, Yankees on Brink of Elimination

CC Sabathia was all over the place Monday night in his New York Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers, who now hold a 3-1 lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series.

The chubby left-hander, who could barely lob the ball to Russell Martin on an intentional walk, matched a postseason-worst with six walks. He literally could not find the strike zone... and he feels pretty bad about it:

"I put us in a bad spot... the next time I get the ball, I'll try to go out and try to help us win."

Too bad he might not get the chance until next season.

But it wasn't all CC's fault. Rafael Soriano, the $161 million man who was tagged with the loss, surrendered the go-ahead home run to Delmon Young in the seventh inning. Two innings later, Jose Valverde had Tigers fans sweating for the second straight game with the Yankees rallying in the ninth, but Derek Jeter failed miserably, striking out with two runners on for the final out.

Justin Verlander was pretty solid for Detroit, giving up four runs on six hits with three walks, but fanning a career postseason-best 11 batters. Hitting an incredible 101-mph on the gun into the eighth inning, the right-hander gained run support through second baseman Ramon Santiago, who went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. Meanwhile, Jhonny Peralta nailed an RBI double to tie it up in the sixth just before Sabathia's exit.

Now on the brink of elimination Tuesday night, the Yankees will look to A.J. Burnett, who sucked quite a bit this season, to shift the series back to New York and force a Game 5. Rick Porcello, a career 2-2 with a 5.56 ERA against the Bronx Bombers, will pitch Game 4 for Detroit at 8:30pm ET on TBS.

[Detroit Free Press]

Rangers One Win Away From World Series

Holy crap, we didn't see this one coming. In the franchise's 50th season, the Texas Rangers are just one win away from playing in their very first World Series.

A.J. Burnett did alright in his New York Yankees' Game 4 loss that has the Rangers leading the series 3-1. In fact, he says:

Believe it or not, it’s probably the best I’ve pitched in a long time. It’s one mistake. It was down and away. It just didn’t go where I wanted it to go. I knew he hit it out.

A.J. Burnett Lights Up Phils in Game 2

Jayson Werth should really do something about that squirrel hanging out on his chin. Just a thought. The New York Yankees’ bats finally woke up for Game 2 of the World Series Thursday night with a 3-1 win over the reigning world champion Philadelphia Phillies.

Continue reading this story at Sports Untapped. Have a safe and fun Halloween everyone! Enjoy the World Series, see ya Monday.

Derek Jeter: Biggest Loser

New York Yankees shortstop and 2009 Roberto Clemente Award recipient Derek Jeter appeared on NBC's The Biggest Loser this week in an effort to pump up the contestants.

We'll see who the biggest losers are after Game 2 of the World Series at 7:57pm ET tonight, where old schooler Pedro Martinez takes the hill for the Philadelphia Phillies against Yankees righty A.J. Burnett. Enjoy!

ALCS: That Game Was Ridiculous

Holy smokes, now that was a poorly-managed ball game.

The Los Angeles Angels kept their World Series dreams alive for one more night, coming away with a 7-6 win over the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the ALCS Thursday night in what turned out to be a helluva baseball game.

A.J. Burnett Exits With Shoulder Injury

A.J. Burnett (5-6, 4.00 ERA) left in the fifth inning with a strained right shoulder as the Toronto Blue Jays lost 3-2 to the San Francisco Giants yesterday.

Burnett labored through the fifth inning and after retiring two batters, walked off the field with trainers and did not return. He was charged with three runs - one unearned - on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

Burnett is considered day-to-day upon further notice.

[CBC Toronto] | [Jays Nest]

Squeeze Play

vs.

It'll be a heated battle between two guys with initials for first names tonight when right-hander A.J. Burnett takes the hill for the Toronto Blue Jays (13-12), opening a three-game series against C.C. Sabathia and the Cleveland Indians (14-8) at 7:05pm ET.

The Tribe is 5-0 when Sabathia has started this season, but the lefty has not gotten a W since defeating the Chicago White Sox on April 15th. He is a career 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA in four home starts against the Jays.