Yankees fall to Tigers, lose Jeter in ALCS Game 1
Saturday’s Yankees/Tigers ALCS opener was an extra-innings affair that ended up with the Tigers on top, 6-4. However, that wasn’t with out some Yankee fireworks courtesy of Raul Ibanez first. Game 1 exemplified what you want to see in playoff baseball: suspense, drama and a close game.
One of the biggest takeaways from the game, though, is that Derek Jeter will be out of commission for the rest of the postseason with a fractured ankle. It’s always hard to lose the team captain, but during the playoffs is hands down the worst possible time. The fracture happened in the twelfth inning when Jeter went to field a hit from Jhonny Peralta and was unable to get up.
“It’s a very difficult moment for all of us,” said Ibanez, adding, “it’s obvious what he means to our team.”
Ibanez, who has already had the chance to thrill not just Yankee fans but baseball fans everywhere with his clutch play, thrilled again. The Yankees were down four runs heading into the ninth, but Ichiro Suzuki staged a comeback with a two-run blast. Ibanez then thrilled fans again with a two-run homer to tie the game and send it into extra innings.
And it wasn’t just Yankee fans that were excited about Ibanez’s clutch performance. Red Sox players Cody Ross, Will Middlebrooks, and Jacoby Ellsbury all tweeted about it, much to the chagrin of Red Sox fans who want to see the Yankees lose at all costs.
All three tweeted their support of Ibanez and were quickly greeted with a barrage of unhappy Red Sox fans. Ross claimed on Twitter that he lost half of his followers after tweeting about Ibanez. He half-heartedly apologized, telling fans that he’s a baseball fan, and Middlebrooks made jokes.
The Tigers ended up winning the game in the 12th, when Miguel Cabrera scored off a Delmon Young double and Andy Dirks singled, driving in Don Kelly.
No matter which team you choose to root for (or not), there’s no denying that Saturday’s game was one for the ages. Extra innings is what makes the playoffs exciting, along with clutch play. It’s what keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
