DETROIT (AP) ― CC Sabathia’s wild night has the New York Yankees on the brink of elimination.
Sa-bathia matched his playoff high with six walks and Derek Jeter struck out with two runners on for the final out in the Yankees’ 5-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Monday night that put New York in a 2-1 hole in the best-of-five AL division series.
Now, the AL East champions are counting on a shaky A.J. Burnett in Game 4 at Comerica Park on Tuesday night. Burnett, who was 11-11 with a 5.15 ERA in the regular season, was pushed into a postseason start only because Sabathia’s start in Game 1 was suspended because of rain.
“I feel good about what A.J. is going to do for us tomorrow,” manager Joe Girardi said.
Sabathia was given an early 2-0 lead but fell short in the matchup of aces, part 2.
New York scored two runs in the first against Justin Verlander before the MVP candidate shut out the potent lineup over the next five innings with 100 mph fastballs and knee-buckling breaking pitches.
The Yankees mounted a rally for the second straight game against closer Jose Valverde in the ninth and fell short. On Sunday, Robinson Cano grounded out with runners on first and second to end the loss.
This time Jeter struck out with two on, and the captain walked away from home plate shaking his head.
“I feel good about Jeter whenever he’s up there in those situations because he’s been there so many times,” Girardi said.
A banged-up Alex Rodriguez was no match for Verlander.
A-Rod grounded out to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead in the first, but finished 0 for 2 with two walks and fell to 0 for 10 in the series. The three-time MVP, nagged by knee and thumb injuries, barely hit better than .200 during the final three months of the regular season.
Rangers 4, Rays 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (AP) ― Colby Lewis outpitched All-Star David Price, Mike Napoli hit a two-run homer and the defending AL champions survived a shaky night from the bullpen to hold off the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 Monday night in Game 3 of their postseason series.
The Rangers’ fourth straight division series road win matches the third-longest streak in major league history and gives Texas a 2-1 lead heading into Game 4 Tuesday at Tropicana Field. Texas won three ALDS games here a year ago, when it eliminated Tampa Bay in five games.
