Yankees Defeat Tigers In Walk-Off Fashion

What do you do when the greatest closer of all time blows a save? Well, if you’re Brett Gardner you bail him out in the bottom of the ninth.

Gardner delivered big time for the Yankees, belting a walk off home run into the right field upper deck with two outs in the ninth, saving Rivera, who gave up two home runs in the top of the frame which tied the game 4-4. Rivera surrendered shots to Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez as he continued his recent struggles. It was the second time this series that Miggy Cabrera victimized Mo with the long ball.

Brett Gardner wasn’t the only Yankee with a significant hit on the afternoon. Alfonzo Soriano deposited his 20^th homer of the season into the left field seats for his 2,000^th career hit and maligned super star Alex Rodriguez hit his first long ball of the year as he continues to work his way back into form. A-Rod added an additional RBI in the bottom of the third as well. Both A-Rod and Soriano got their production off of Detroit ace Justin Verlander who gave up four runs over seven innings in the no decision.

Andy Pettitte started for the Yanks but only lasted 4.1 innings before being taken out of the game with the bases loaded. Pettitte worked in and out of trouble all afternoon, surrendering just one earned run while throwing over 100 pitches. Shawn Kelley and Boone Logan combined for 2.2 scoreless innings of relief, while David Robertson surrendered a solo shot to Brayan Pena in his one inning of work.

The Yankees hope to ride the momentum of this series win as they welcome the Angels to the Bronx on Monday.