ekansekans's blog: "df"

(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees begin life without Derek Jeter on Sunday when they play Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium. Detroit won Game 1 on Saturday, but New York may have lost something far worse, as Jeter fractured his ankle and will miss the remainder of the postseason. "It will be a three-month recovery period," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It wont threaten his career, but he wont be playing any more this season." The Tigers grabbed the upper hand in the series on Saturday despite another meltdown from closer Jose Valverde, as Delmon Youngs tie-breaking RBI double in the 12th inning helped Detroit to 6-4 win. Valverde gave up a four-run lead in the ninth, capped by another Raul Ibanez game-tying home run. But after neither team scored in the 10th or 11th, New Yorks David Phelps (0-2) issued a leadoff walk to Miguel Cabrera before Prince Fielder moved the 2012 AL Triple Crown winner to second with a grounder. Young then sent a line drive that got past Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher to bring home Cabrera for a 5-4 lead. "This is my fourth postseason so maybe having a couple of years under my belt helps to keep me calm out there," said Young, who also homered in the win. The Tigers then added another run for the final margin. "Weve been taking punches all year," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland. "Tonight we took a big right cross, but we survived it." The loss, though, became an afterthought for the Yankees, who will now have to get by without Jeter. Girardi compared it to when the team lost closer Mariano Rivera to a torn ACL in May. "We have to find a way to try to get it done," Girardi said. "I think some people left us for dead when Mo went down and here we are in the ALCS." The Tigers also spoke of Jeter in glowing terms. "You dont want to see the captain going down like that," said Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder. "Not only is he a great player -- hes a great guy, down to earth and humble. He forces us all to play the game the way he does, running out ground balls hard every time. Hes Derek Jeter. Hes the man." Cabrera has now reached base safely in all 17 career postseason games with the Tigers. His streak is the second-longest in franchise history, trailing only Hall of Famer Hank Greenbergs 18-game streak from Oct. 3, 1934 to Oct. 4, 1945. In 42 previous ALCS matchups, the team that won Game 1 has gone on to win the pennant 25 times. New York, though, is 7-2 in series after losing Game 1 at home, while the Tigers have won all three series after claiming Game 1 on the road. Getting the call for the Yankees in Game 2 will be righty Hiroki Kuroda, who was brilliant in his ALDS start, but will be start on short rest for the first time in his career tonight. "This is probably the shortest rest Ive had in my baseball career," Kuroda said. "At this point in the season we cant really be talking about anything but to win. I will prepare myself to win this game. "Im not too concerned. I prepare myself as if the next game Im going to pitch is my last. Ive always taken that approach." He was terrific in Game 3 against the Orioles, as he gave up two runs on five hits over 8 1/3 innings, but did not factor in the decision of his teams win. Kuroda did not get a decision in either of his two starts against the Tigers this season, but allowed just five runs in 13 1/3 innings of those outings. Girardi likely opted to go with Kuroda rather than Phelps based on how well the Japanese hurler has performed at home, where he was 11-6 with a 2.72 ERA in 19 regular season starts. "I dont what the secret is to my success in this ballpark," Kuroda said, "but my style of pitching is to be aggressive and thats pretty much determined how Ive pitched here." Righty Anibal Sanchez gets the call for the Tigers. Sanchez lost his ALDS start to Oakland, but pitched well, allowing two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Sanchez was hit hard by the Yanks the last time he faced them, surrendering seven runs in just three innings. He is 1-1 in two starts against them with a 7.27 ERA. In addition to last seasons ALDS, the Tigers also beat the Yankees in the first round in 2006. New York, though, took six of the 10 regular season matchups this past year. Wholesale MLB Jerseys . -- Actor Jack Wagner and former pitcher Mark Mulder shared the lead Friday after the first round of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe. Wholesale NHL Jerseys . Then they went out and earned it. Nick Young scored 19 points off the bench, Blake Griffin added 17 and Randy Foye 13 to beat the Thunder 92-77 on Monday night. http://elevatedcolor.com/hot.html . -- Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy has walked a few steps and is making encouraging progress in his recovery from surgery after getting hit in the head by a line drive last week.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Reds activated Canadian first baseman Joey Votto off the disabled list on Tuesday, but will go easy with the first baseman until his left knee is back to normal. Votto, from Toronto, hadnt played since July 15 because of damaged cartilage in the knee that required two operations. He had a rehab stint in Class A Dayton and Triple-A Louisville last week. Votto wasnt in the lineup for a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. The 2010 NL MVP said the knee is getting better, but hes not ready to play every day. "I think working me in slowly is the wise move," Votto said. "Its not 100 per cent yet, but that will come in time." Manager Dusty Baker said Votto could start a day game Wednesday that concludes the series against Philadelphia. There was no hurry to get Votto back in the lineup -- the Reds led the NL Central by 8 1/2 games on Tuesday, the biggest lead in the majors. Cincinnati went 32-16 after Votto went on the disabled list. "The plans going to change every day, depending on how he feels," manager Dusty Baker said. "As of right now, hell probably start tomorrow. Then weve got to watch him if theres a long inning or whatever, if he gets sore or makes a wrong move. Were going to try to preserve hiim and work him back in there.dddddddddddd" Votto went 2 for 11 during his rehab stint last week. Hed hoped to get on base more so he could see how the knee held up when he ran the bases. Votto was batting .342 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs when he went on the disabled list. The idea is to get him as close to 100 per cent as he can be heading into October. "I dont think Ill see 100 per cent until sometime in the off-season," Votto said. "Im talking about being able to play baseball, putting myself in uncomfortable positions. I would like to think Ill be able to get through all the games and recover as we move through September and all the way to the end of October." Votto was looking forward to seeing how fans reacted the first time he came to bat at Great American Ball Park. "Im really excited to see the fans reaction," Votto said. "Thats what Im most curious about. I miss them. I love the support. I love playing in front of the fans in this ballpark." In other moves, the Reds recalled right-handers Todd Redmond and Pedro Villarreal from Triple-A Louisville, called up left-hander Tony Cingrani from Double-A Pensacola, and outrighted infielder Chris Valaika and right-hander Jordan Smith to Louisville. ' ' '