AJ Burnett may have been erratic all season, but he came through with the season on the line.

Curtis Granderson
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Burnett earned the win after scattering four hits over 5.2 innings, only letting up one run. In the beginning it looked like another typical Burnett start.  He started off the game walking Austin Jackson, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez to load the bases with two outs. Don Kelly stepped up to the plate with an opportunity to punish Burnett’s mistakes. However, Curtis Granderson had different plans.  Kelly launched a line drive into deep center field. Granderson got on his horse, ran down the ball and made a terrific diving catch, one of the two highlight worthy catches he had in this game, saving at least three runs. The second came in the sixth inning for the third out, and kept another run from crossing the plate.

The first runs of the game came in the third with Jorge Posada and Russell Martin on first and second.  The captain, Derek Jeter came through with a double scoring Posada easily as Martin hustled from first, almost catching up to Posada, and slid around the tag to score and give the Yankees the early 2-0 lead.

The Tigers didn’t stay silent for long.  Burnett had a no-hitter, despite four walks, through three innings. Victor Martinez lead off the fourth inning with a solo home run, shrinking the Yankees lead to 2-1. The Yankees scored two more runs in the fifth on a Granderson RBI double, and an Alex Rodriguez sac fly.  It wasn’t until the eighth inning when the Yankees broke this game wide open.

Former Yankee, Phil Coke relieved Porcello in the seventh and kept the Yankees scoreless in that inning.  However, the eighth inning would be a very different story.  He let up three straight singles to load the bases before being relieved by Al Albuquerque.

Al Alburquerque
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With Jesus Montero pinch hitting for Posada, Albuquerque balked in a run.  Montero then delivered with a single scoring Mark Teixeira. Brett Gardner and Robinson Cano were able to contribute that inning as well, knocking in another three runs between the two of them. All that offense, plus a wild pitch from Daniel Schlereth that scored Montero made this game into a rout.

Even though the Yankees put up most of their runs against the Tigers’ bullpen, Rick Porcello was still charged with the loss after giving up five hits and four runs over six innings. Rafael Soriano, Phil Hughes and Boon Logan all pitched terrifically combining to pitch a prefect last three innings, striking out six of the last nine batters.

With that win the Yankees bring the series back to the Bronx tied 2-2.  Game five will be on Thursday October 6th, first pitch at 8:07pm and pre-game at 7:30pm.  You can hear that and the rest of the MLB Playoffs on 104.5 “The Team” ESPN Radio!

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