Tigers lead entire game in route to 2-1 victory over the N.Y. Yankees

The City of Detroit was fired up for Game #3 at Comerica Park on Tuesday October 16, 2012 against the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.  These are the same Yankees who have always have been a thorn in the side of the Tigers for years.  The Stadium was all decked for this big contest.  The security was completely stepped up by Major League Baseball to ensure that no problems would occur. 

Being able to be on the field for a good two hours was like going to a baseball who's who meeting.  Remember that each of the teams have several former players as coaches and all of the broadcast teams have former players as announcers.  The first pitch of game #3 was thrown out by one of my baseball heros Jack Morris from the 1984 World Series Champs. 

The sold out, standing room only crowd was all fired up for the game to be played at Comerica Park.  The weather even cooperated for a game in mid-October in Michigan at 8:07p.m.   It was 53 degrees at gametime and when Justin Verlander threw the first pitch the excitement was in the air.   Justin proceeded to do what almost everyone in the ball park figured the he would do by mowing down the N.Y. Yankee line-up minus Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher.  These top two players were in a long slump and manager Joe Girardi decided to sit both and having Derek Jeter out with a broken ankle it didn't seem like the same team. 

The game moved along at a good pace and then Delmon Young broke the score with a solo shot to left field that just cleared the fence for a 1-0 lead.  The Tigers would add an insurance run later in the game to lead 2-0 going into the 9th inning.  Justin Verlander had thrown 115 pitches to that point.  Manager Jim Leyland was going to let Verlander finsih the game.  However he ran into some problems with Eduardo Nunez who fouled several pitches then hit a Justin Verlander ball into the stands to make it a 2-1 game.  Verlander got the next out and Leyland brought in Phil Coke to finish the game.   It took a while and a couple of nervous moments.  But Coke struck out Raul Ibanez to finish the victory and give the Tigers a commanding 3-0 lead in the best of seven series. 

The Tigers should finish out the ALCS tonight with Max Scherzer on the mound.  The Yankees are down and out with the Tigers delivering the knockout blow tonight.   This would give the team a weeks rest before the World Series starts on Wednesday October 24, 2012.   Then Justin Verlander would be back in line to start Game #1 of the 2012 World Series.   This season has turned into just what I thought it would be.