Tampa Bay Rays' Sean Rodriguez (center) runs over Texas Rangers catcher Mike Napoli (left) to score on a double by Matt Joyce as home plate umpire Greg Gibson looks on during the second inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League division series Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Rangers defeated the Rays 4-3 to clinch the series. ((AP Photo/St. Petersburg Times, Dirk Shadd)) |
DETROIT (AP) — Curtis Granderson made two spectacular catches against his former team and A.J. Burnett came through when the Yankees needed him most, leading New York past the Detroit Tigers 10-1 Tuesday night to send their AL playoff series back to the Bronx for a decisive Game 5.
Derek Jeter bounced back from a game-ending strikeout Monday, putting the Yankees ahead to stay with a two-run double in the third inning. Granderson also had an RBI double and New York broke it open with six runs in the eighth.
Shaky all season, Burnett started only because Game 1 was suspended by rain Friday. He was in trouble in the first after loading the bases on walks but Granderson made a leaping grab of Don Kelly's line drive in center field, preventing at least three runs.
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Adrian Beltre hit three straight home runs and the Texas Rangers powered themselves back into the AL championship series, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 Tuesday to win their playoff matchup.It's just the seventh time a player has homered three times in a postseason game. He led the Rangers to victory in Game 4 of the best-of-five division series.
Texas ended the Rays' remarkable run to the AL wild-card spot, and will play for the pennant against the Tigers-Yankees winner.
Ian Kinsler led off the game for Texas by homering on the second pitch from rookie Jeremy Hellickson.
Matt Harrison, who made a relief appearance in the Rangers' loss in the series opener, pitched five innings to get the win in his first postseason start. Neftali Feliz gave up a run in the ninth inning before closing for his third save of the series.
