Yankees vs Tigers: Texas Rangers clinch a spot

In the third inning Derek Jeter pulled off a double that allowed Jorge Posada and Russell Martin to score that make the Yankees lead 2-0. Jeter may be saving the Yankees season with that two RBIs but the Tigers ability to bounce back will be observed.

New York is in the brink of elimination as Detroit will rely on the throwing arms of Rick Porcello in Game 4 of the American League Divisional Series. It will be a tough night for the Yankees as they brought in AJ Burnett to start.

Texas Rangers vs Tampa Bay Rays

Texas Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays through the magnificent performance of Adrian Beltre in Game 4 of the American Legue Divisional Series to advance to the next round.

Beltre showed to the world that he is worth the money Texas invested for this season as he hit for three home runs for the Rangers to win 4-3. Beltre’s home runs were to much for the Rays to absorb and to match. Beltre also match the record of becoming the seventh player to have three homeruns in a playoff game.

Beltree was 3-out-of-4 at bat as he flied out in his final at bat. He drilled in solo home runs off Hellicson in the second and fourth inning, and another solo drive against Matt Moore in the seventh inning that solidify the victory of the Rangers.

It was a tough decision for Tampa Bay Manager to bring on Moore but it was a choice that will give chance to the Rays to win games as Moore won Game 1 for them. Moore went on to work efficiently against the first six batters he faced bat Beltree made the hit on the opposite field for a home run.

Rangers ended the chance of the Rays to have yet another magical year after coming back from that deficit to win the wild card in September. It is the Rangers chance to get back into the American League Championship Series against the winner of Yankees and Tigers series.

Yankees vs Tigers Pre-Game

New York went on to win Game 1 but Detroit captured two games in a row winning 5-4 in yesterdays game. Yankees understand that this is the game that they must shine as they are a game away into elimination making all their wins in the regular season for nothing.

It is still in the minds of the baseball fans and the Yankees about what happened five years ago when the Tigers defeated the heavily favored Yankees in four games. It is happening again unless New York will do something different in this game.

This may be the last year of the Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez era if the Yankees failed to win Game 4. We all know that Jeter must step up as well as Rodriguez whose playoffs performance still below his regular season average. Both these players must prove to the whole Yankees team that they can bail them out in this series against the Tigers.

For the Yankees, AJ Burnett will be the starting pitcher. It will be tough for the Yankees to start him because of his inconsistencies. Burnett has 11-11 record with 5.15 ERA in the regular season. He is considered to be unreliable in this season because of his leading 25 wild pitches. However, Burnett showed some power in September with two solid starts with 15 strikeouts in 11 innings, 1-0 record, and 3.18 ERA.

Manager Joe Girardi put his trust on the right hander pitcher to provide them the significant victory so that they will keep their dream for the pennant to be alive. Girardi must also push the right buttons in this game especially when the game is on the line in the seventh to ninth inning.

Players like Robinson Cano, Andruw Jones, and Mark Teixeira must have their best game to avoid elimination. Cano who was the best player in Game 1 must find his ways against Detroit Tigers’ starter.

All contributions are needed from the Yankees lineup to force Game 5. This game is the same scenario five years ago and New York doesn’t want to repeat history.

On the other hand, Detroit Tigers Game 3 victory showed that the focus to make another upset is imminent. Tigers will start Rick Porcello with the record of 14-9 and 4.76 ERA in the regular season. It will be his first postseason start and he can send the Yankees home early tonight.

Porcello has been consistent in his last seven starts with 3-1 record, 3.50 ERA. He can be dominant against the Yankees offensive rosters. However, he didn’t play well at home with just 5-5 record in 14 outings.

Miguel Cabrera will be the key player for the Tigers if they want to advance in this game. He must take the responsibility of starting the fire to derail Burnett early in the game. If Cabrera will be hot, then the rest of the Tigers will surely be affected that victory is at hand.