Sanchez was rock solid for seven innings against New York
Anibal Sanchez pitched what may have been his finest game as a member of the Detroit Tigers since coming to the team in a trade with the Marlins in July to lead the Tigers to a 3-0 shutout victory over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the ALCS.
Sanchez tossed seven shutout innings allowing just three hits and striking out seven. In two postseason starts (13 1/3 innings), Sanchez has combined for 10 strikeouts and a 1.35 ERA. Phil Coke pitched the final two innings to preserve the shutout and earned the save.
J0se Valverde was declared unavailable by Tigers manager Jim Leyland before the game started.
The Tigers now hold a commanding two-game lead with the series heading back to Detroit. Justin Verlander will start Game 3.
Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda did not allow a hit until the sixth inning, and pitched into the eighth inning allowing five hits, three earned runs. He struck out 11. Boone Logan, Joba Chamberlain and Clay Rapada allowed two inherited runs in relief.
The Tigers scored twice in the eighth after second base umpire Jeff Nelsonmissed a call on a two-out tag at second base. Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected after arguing the call. Robinson Cano made a swipe tag as Omar Infante made a head-first dive back to second. Cano missed Infante’s arm but brushed his body, replays clearly showed. But Nelson called Infante safe.
The Yankees play the game without Derek Jeter who fractured his ankle in game one. Cano, Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher and Alex Rodriguez, continued to struggle. Granderson went 0 for 3 with three Ks, while Swisher picked up an infield hit and two strikeouts in three at-bats. Rodriguez had a hit in the ninth inning and struck out twice.
