DETROIT 6 NY YANKEES 4 (12)
Delmon Young doubled home the go-ahead run in the 12th inning after New York's Raul Ibanez hit another stunning game-tying home run during a four-run rally in the ninth, and the Detroit Tigers outlasted the Yankees 6-4 Saturday night in an AL championship series opener in which Derek Jeter was helped off the field with what appeared to be a serious leg injury.
Jeter rolled over his knee when he dove in an attempt to glove Jhonny Peralta's grounder up the middle in the 12th. Unable to move, he flipped the ball toward the mound and his leg was dangling as he was assisted off by manager Joe Girardi and trainer Steve Donahue.
Detroit was coasting to a 4-0 win before the Yankees rocked Tigers closer Jose Valverde in the ninth.
Raul Ibanez hit another tying homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers were tied 4-4 after 11 innings on Saturday night in the opener of the American League championship series.
Three batters after Ichiro Suzuki hit a two-run shot off closer Jose Valverde to cut the Yankees' deficit in half, Ibanez connected for his second tying homer of this postseason, a two-run drive to right-centre.
Ibanez started his powerful week pinch-hitting for Alex Rodriguez against Baltimore Orioles closer Jim Johnson in the ninth inning on Wednesday to send Game 3 of the division series to extra innings.
Then he won it with a homer in the 12th inning.
The 40-year-old Ibanez also homered twice after entering as a pinch hitter on Sept. 22 in a 10-9, 14-inning win over Oakland. With New York fighting for the AL East title, he hit a tying pinch homer against Boston in the ninth on Oct. 2 and then singled in the winning run in the 12th.
The Tigers failed to capitalize on pinch-hitter Alex Avila's one-out single off David Robertson in the top of the 11th, and the Yankees missed a chance in the bottom half after Suzuki led off with a single, his fourth hit of the game, off Drew Smyly.
Russell Martin singled leading off the ninth and advanced on defensive indifference. Suzuki followed with the first postseason homer of his career after Derek Jeter struck out. Robinson Cano struck out and Mark Teixeira walked ahead of Ibanez.
Valverde blew a save in Game 4 of the division series against Oakland and has allowed seven runs in 2 1-3 innings this post-season.
The Tigers opened a 4-0 lead against Yankees starter Andy Pettitte and Derek Lowe.
Prince Fielder singled in a run after Miguel Cabrera was intentionally walked in the sixth, and Delmon Young followed with a run-scoring single to make it 2-0.
Young then homered in the eighth.
