ALCS Game 2: Tigers Shutout Yanks 3-0, Lead Series 2-0

The nightmare continued for Yankee fans in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday afternoon as the Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers 3-0. The Yankees once again got an outstanding pitching performance from a starter and once again failed to produce anything with the bats. The Yankees continued to make mediocre pitchers look like Cy Young caliber players, tonight it was Anibal Sanchez who shut the Yankees down in his seven innings of work allowing only three base hits and struck out seven.

Hiroki Kuroda was perfect through his first five innings before Jhonny Peralta led off the sixth inning with a single back up the middle. The Tigers would not score until Kuroda, who was pitching on three day’s rest got into trouble in the seventh. Quinton Berry led off with a ground rule double to center field and Miguel Cabrera followed with a single, putting runners on 1st and 3^rd with no one out.  Kuroda struck out Prince Fielder for the first out and got Delmon Young to bounce a slow roller to short. Nix fielded and flipped to Cano but Cano muffed the transfer and Young was safe at first allowing Berry to score the first run of the game. Kuroda got out of the inning when Andy Dirks lined out to short.

Kuroda came out for the 8^th inning and quickly struck out Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila for the first two outs. The next hitter Omar Infante singled to center. Austin Jackson followed with a single of his own but Omar Infante over ran second base and was clearly tagged out. Second base umpire Jeff Nelson thought otherwise and called him safe enraging Joe Girardi who was thrown out of the game. Boone Logan then came on in relief of Kuroda and the blown call came back to bite them. Avisail Garcia hitting for Quinton Berry singled scoring Infante. Joba Chamberlain then came on in relief and to face Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera singled scoring Jackson putting the Tigers up 3-0. Kuroda went 7 2/3 gave up three runs on five hits and struck out 11.

The Yankees had 4 base hits. Teixeira hit a double in the bottom of the first. Raul Ibanez, A-Rod and Nick Swisher all had singles.

The Yankees will play the Tigers again on Tuesday night at Comerica Park in Detroit. Phil Hughes will get the start for the Yankees while Justin Verlander will go for the Tigers. Pregame coverage begins at 7:30, first pitch at 8:05 right here on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.