Detroit Tigers’ Top 5 Recent Yankee Domination Moments

Credit: Flickr, Creative Commons – Keith Allison

2.  October 2011 – Five years later the Yankees were drooling at their chance for revenge in the American League Division Series.  The Yankees and Tigers both finished with 95 plus wins and the Yankees were the favorite with home field advantage again.  The Yankees again dominated the Tigers 9-3 in Game 1 defeating Justin Verlander who was replaced by Doug Fister after a lenghty rain delay.  The dynamic duo Max Scherzer and Miguel Cabrera stole Game 2 from the Yankees in the Bronx winning 5-3.

Verlander returned in Game 3 after only pitching one inning in Game 1.  Verlander pitched a gem and defeated the Yankees and C.C. Sabathia.  Mr. October, Delmon  Young, hit his second home run of the series for the Tigers and “Papa Grande” Jose Valverde recorded his 50th save in as many attempts in the 2011 season.

The Yankees crushed the Tigers and Rick Porcello in the final game at Comerica Park 10-1 to send the series back to New York.  The Yankees late rally off the tandem of Phil Coke and Al Alburquerque (sound familiar) put the game out of reach.

Game 5 saw Don Kelly and Delmon Young hit back to back home runs in the first inning to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead they never surrendered in their 3-2 victory over the Yankees at home.  The Yankees threw C.C. Sabathia in relief and it was Mariano Rivera‘s final post season game for the Yankees.