Verlander took a shutout into the ninth inning
Justin Verlander pitched into the ninth inning allowing just three hits and one earned run, a leadoff homer in the ninth by Eduardo Nuñez, and the Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees 2-1 and are on the brink of the World Series with a 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series.
Delmon Young hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and Miguel Cabrera doubled to right center to score Quintin Berry. those would be all the runs the Tigers needed. Phil Coke earned the save after allowing back-to-back singles in the ninth before striking out Raul Ibanez.
Yankees starter Phil Hughes left the game in the fourth inning with a stiff back and was replaced by David Phelps. Brett Gardner made his first start since suffering an elbow injury in April for New York. Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher or benched. Rodriguez is is just 3-for-23 (.130) in the playoffs and Swisher is 4-for-26. Ichiro Suzuki had two hits for the Yankees.
The Tigers can clinch a trip to the World Series with a victory on Thursday. CC Sabathia goes up against Max Scherzer.
