When's the last time you were this happy after winning trip to Arlington, Texas?
Excuse the Star Wars reference, Will Muschamp (who knew football coaches were this pop culuture-inept?)
Chances are, the Florida coach won't be reading this anyway. But if he did, he'd learn that the Detroit Tigers earned themselves a trip to the American League Championship Series after defeating the "Evil Empire". The Tigers came out of the gate firing as Don Kelly and Delmon Young blasted back to back homeruns on back to back pitches in the very first inning. Girardi wasted no time in stirring the bullpen as it seemed the Yankee 'pen had someone warming up every inning. Sure enough, Nova was pulled after 2 innings with supposed forearm stiffness. Phil Hughes would come on to pitch an inning and a third of scoreless ball before giving way to C.C. Sabathia. This was C.C.'s first career relief appearance as a major leaguer - it was also just a couple days after firing 106 pitches during Monday's Game 3. And it showed. Sabathia promptly gave up a leadoff double to Austin Jackson, followed it with an intentional walk to Miguel Cabrera and surrendered an RBI single to Victor Martinez. He would settle in though and eventually strike out all 4 batters he face in his 1 1/3 innings.
Fister Comes Up Big
Meanwhile, Doug Fister was cruising through the New York lineup. Fister put in 5 innings of solid work on the mound allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks while K'ing up 4. Not bad for a 2nd career playoff start - and in front of a packed Yankee Stadium in deciding Game 5 no less. It wasn't all smooth sailing for Fister though, he would have to maneuver his way out of a bases loaded jam in the 4th to earn his win tonight.
Bullpens Hang Tough, Seal Deal
Both bullpens combined to pitch 11 innings of 2 run baseball tonight - can't ask for much more than that. After VMart's rbi single in the top of the 5th, Cano mashed a solo shot into the 2nd deck to get the Yankees on the board. However, they would only muster one more run on a bases loaded walk in the 7th before leaving them loaded for the second time in 4 innings. Benoit stayed in the game after shutting the door in the 7th inning and would eventually give way to Papa Grande, Jose Valverde. The Tiger closer wasted no time sending all 3 Yankee sluggers back to the bench, including a strikeout of Alex Rodriguez to clinch the series.
The Tigers will travel to Texas to take on the AL West Champion Rangers in a battle for the American League Pennant on Saturday.
