The LoHud Yankees Blog

YANKEES (2-2)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF

RHP Ivan Nova (16-4, 3.70)
Nova vs. Tigers

TIGERS (2-2)
Austin Jackson CF
Ramon Santiago 2B
Delmon Young LF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Don Kelly RF
Jhonny Peralta SS
Alex Avila C
Wilson Betemit 3B

RHP Doug Fister (11-13, 2.83)
Fister vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 8:07., TBS

WEATHER: It’s starting to get cold, but at least it looks like they’ll play. Only the slightest chance of rain tonight.

UMPIRES: HP Ted Barrett, 1B Bill Welke, 2B Tony Randazzo, 3B Eric Cooper, LF Gerry Davis, RF Dan Iassogna

WINNER TAKE ALL: The Yankees are playing an ALDS Game 5 for the seventh time, their first since their 2005 series loss and the Angels. This is the ninth time the Yankees have played a deciding Game 5 in a best-of-five format (also 1976 and 1977 in the ALCS).

CAPTAIN CLUTCH: Derek Jeter has played in seven winner-take-all postseason games, hitting safely in each one and combining to go 10-for-29 (.345) with four runs, two doubles, a home run and four RBI.

FIRST TIMER? According to Elias, Ivan Nova will be only the second rookie pitcher to make his first postseason start in a winner-take-all game, joining the Phillies’ Marty Bystrom in the 1980 NLCS Game 5 at Houston. Bystrom (5.1IP, 7H, 2R, 1ER, 2BB, 1K) did not record a decision in the 8-7, 10-inning Phillies victory. Don’t forget, Nova technically was not the starting pitcher in Game 1.

GO WITH GARDY: Brett Gardner has gone 4-for-7 (.571) with runners on base during this division series, including 2-for-2 with four RBI with runners in scoring position and two outs.

UPDATE, 8:07 p.m.: Pitches No. 6 and 7 from Nova are solo home runs, one by Don Kelly and one by Delmon Young, who now has three in the series.

UPDATE, 8:24 p.m.: Leadoff double in the top of the second, but Nova’s one out away from leaving that runner stranded. First time through the order, three Tigers have hit the ball hard.

UPDATE, 8:29 p.m.: Nova strikes out pesky utility man Ramon Santiago to leave Ordonez stranded at third. Nova has three strikeouts through two innings.

UPDATE, 8:34 p.m.: Sharp double by Teixeira, who’s been needing to drive the ball this series and finally did with a hard-hit ball to the right-center gap.

UPDATE, 8:39 p.m.: That’s a quick hook. Nova retired the last three batters he faced in the second inning, but here’s Phil Hughes out of the Yankees bullpen.

UPDATE, 8:41 p.m.: So Nova pitched 6.1 innings as a reliever this series, and only two innings as a starer. That’s normal.

UPDATE, 9:03 p.m.: The crowd here thought Cano had a two-run double, but Jackson tracked it down for the final out of the third  innings, leaving Granderson and Gardner stranded at first and second. It’s still 2-0 Tigers.

UPDATE, 9:09 p.m.: Playing matchups in the fourth inning. Hughes looked alright to me, but here’s Boone Logan to face Alex Avila, who doesn’t have a hit this series.

UPDATE, 9:12 p.m.: Well, that didn’t work. Avila just singled to right, and now Cory Wade is getting loose.

UPDATE, 9:16 p.m.: CC Sabathia now warming in the bullpen. Maybe try to get two innings out of him to get into the seventh? I’m not sure. We’re well into uncharted water here.

UPDATE, 9:31 p.m.: Gardner up with two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth. No sign of Eric Chavez to pinch hit.

UPDATE, 9:36 p.m.: Pretty good at-bat, and Gardner’s been terrific this series, but he just popped up in foul territory to end the fourth. CC is coming in to pitch the fifth. It’s his first career relief appearance, regular season or postseason.

UPDATE, 9:46 p.m.: The Yankees just announced that Nova left the game with a tight right forearm.

UPDATE, 9:52 p.m.: Victor Martinez makes the Yankees pay for intentionally walking Cabrera. His two-out single scored Austin Jackson — the run was going to score with or without Granderson bobbling the ball — and gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead. Now the Tigers have shifted Kelly to right field and brought Brandon Inge to play third.

UPDATE, 9:58 p.m.: Cano’s eighth postseason home run has the Yankees on the board, 3-1, in the bottom of the fifth.

UPDATE, 10:50 p.m.: Bases loaded for Rodriguez. This is a chance for the heart of the order to make up for a lost series.

UPDATE, 10:56 p.m.: Rodriguez goes down swinging, now it’s Teixeira’s turn.

UPDATE, 11:03 p.m.: Teixeira drew a walk for his first RBI of the series, but Swisher went down swinging and the Yankees still trail 3-2 heading into the eighth.

YANKEES (1-2)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF

RHP A.J. Burnett (11-11, 5.15)
Burnett vs. Tigers

TIGERS (2-1)
Austin Jackson CF
Ramon Santiago 2B
Delmon Young LF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Don Kelly RF
Jhonny Peralta SS
Alex Avila C
Wilson Betemit 3B

RHP Rick Porcello (14-9, 4.75)
Porcello vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 8:37., TBS

WEATHER: Much, much nicer today than it was yesterday. Nothing but blue skies all afternoon.

UMPIRES: HP Dan Iassogna, 1B Ted Barrett, 2B Bill Welke, 3B Tony Randazzo, LF Eric Cooper, RF Gerry Davis

BEEN HERE BEFORE: The Yankees are 1-4 in ALDS series when falling behind 2-games-to-1. The lone win came in 2001 against Oakland — you probably remember that one — and the Yankees are 7-6 in ALDS games when facing elimination.

NOT CLOSE ENOUGH: After last night’s 5-4 loss, the Yankees have had nine of their past 14 road games — dating back to September 8 — decided by one run. They have gone 3-6 in those games.

OLD TREND, NEW TREND: The Yankees are 7-5 in their last 12 games when the opponent’s starting pitcher is making his first career postseason start. They had won three such games in a row prior to Max Scherzer’s win in Game 2 of this ALDS.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Yankees are 8-9 in ALDS road games since 2002, but seven of those eight wins have come in Minneapolis. They lost both of their games at Comerica Park during the 2006 ALDS.

UPDATE, 8:39 p.m.: Very nice play by Peralta to get Cano and cap a 1-2-3 top of the first for Porcello. Here’s A.J.

UPDATE, 8:45 p.m.: Austin Jackson walks and steals second easily. Runner at second with one out and the heart of the Tigers order coming to the plate.

UPDATE, 8:52 p.m.: Is it usually a good sign when the pitching coach goes to the mound after five batters?

UPDATE, 8:54 p.m.: And the high-wire act begins. Burnett walks the bases loaded, and gets out of it because Curtis Granderson is athletic enough to make a terrible read on a fly ball to center, but still make a leaping catch.

UPDATE, 8:58 p.m.: Teixeira absolutely crushes a line drive… right into the shift for an out.

UPDATE, 9:06 p.m.: A clean, 10-pitch second inning for Burnett. Still scoreless through two.

UPDATE, 9:16 p.m.: Nice job by Martin to recognize early that Jeter’s double was going to fall. He took off early enough to score — just barely — and give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Martin nearly caught up to Posada on the bases.

UPDATE, 9:43 p.m.: The Tigers first hit of the game is a big one, a home run that Victor Martinez absolutely crushed to right field. It’s a 2-1 Yankees lead in the bottom of the fourth.

UPDATE, 9:49 p.m.: Burnett strikeouts Betemit for the second time tonight and the Yankees have a 2-1 lead after four innings. Burnett’s thrown 61 pitches.

UPDATE, 9:58 p.m.: There’s a sharp double by Granderson for a 3-1 Yankees lead in the top of the fifth. Now the Tigers are intentionally walking Cano to load the bases for Alex Rodriguez.

UPDATE, 10:01 p.m.: Pretty deep sac fly by Rodriguez and it’s a 4-1 Yankees lead.

UPDATE, 10:09 p.m.: A double play helps Burnett get through a scoreless fifth, and the Yankees are into their final four innings with a 4-1 lead. One more inning and they can go to Soriano, Robertson and Rivera.

UPDATE, 10:20 p.m.: Yankees had the bullpen active in the first inning, but Burnett’s still out there in the sixth. He’s given them what they needed.

UPDATE, 10:26 p.m.: That’s all for Burnett, 5.2 innings, four hits, four walks and so far only one run. Soriano coming in to get the last out of the sixth inning with a runner at first.

UPDATE, 10:29 p.m.: My gosh, Curtis Granderson with an unreal diving catch to save at least a double. It’s rare that an entire press box says “wow” in unison, but it just happened. A terrific grab in the gap in left-center to end the sixth.

UPDATE, 10:55 p.m.: Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher just had three straight hits. Seriously, it happened. And now Jesus Montero has come on deck to pinch hit for Posada, but the Tigers are going to the bullpen for a right-hander. No indication whether Girardi plans to stick with Montero or pinch hit someone like Chavez.

UPDATE, 11:01 p.m.: Montero’s first postseason at-bat ends with an RBI single — it came after a run-scoring balk — and the lead is up to 6-1 in the eighth.

UPDATE, 11:17 p.m.: Now this game is getting out of hand, with the Yankees scoring six runs — and counting — in the eighth to make it 10-1.

YANKEES (1-1)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF

LHP CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.00)
Sabathia vs. Tigers

TIGERS (1-1)
Austin Jackson CF
Ramon Santiago 2B
Delmon Young LF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Magglio Ordonez RF
Jhonny Peralta SS
Alex Avila C
Brandon Inge 3B

RHP Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.40)
Verlander vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 8:37., TBS

WEATHER: The rain seems to be following the Yankees across the country. It’s been rainy all day here in Detroit, but it was clear enough that the tarp stayed of the field pregame.

UMPIRES: HP Gerry Davis, 1B Dan Iassogna, 2B Ted Barrett, 3B Bill Welke, LF Tony Randazzo, RF Eric Cooper

LET’S TRY THIS AGAIN: This is the first time a pitcher has started Games 1 and 3 in a postseason series since Kevin Brown in the 1998 NLDS with San Diego. Sabathia and Verlander are the first American League pitchers to do it since Oakland’s Dave Stewart in the 1989 World Series vs. San Francisco. Sabathia is the first Yankee to start Games 1 and 3 since Whitey Ford took the loss in Game 1 of the 1956 World Series before tossing a complete-game win in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on two-days’ rest.

HOME ON THE ROAD: Sabathia is undefeated in four road postseason starts as a Yankee, going 2-0 with a 4.38 ERA (24.2IP, 12ER).

CHUGGING ALONG: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Jorge Posada became the second 40-year-old to hit a triple in a postseason game, joining Joe Morgan, who did it with the Phillies in Game 5 of the 1983 World Series vs. Baltimore.

STREAK SNAPPED: The Yankees had their seven-game ALDS winning streak snapped yesterday. It was the longest-ever ALDS winning streak.

UPDATE, 8:46 p.m.: Jeter’s single and Granderson’s triple have sparked a two-run first inning for the Yankees. Verlander is throwing serious heat, but two hits and an RBI ground out are enough for a 2-0 lead.

UPDATE, 8:52 p.m.: Sabathia walks Jackson, but get a double play ball as Russell Martin pumps his fist in foul territory.

UPDATE, 8:58 p.m.: Tight zone, and Sabathia has walked three of the first four batters he’s faced.

UPDATE, 9:02 p.m.: Martinez goes down swinging, and Sabathia is out of the jam. Took him 28 pitches, one more than he threw in two innings on Friday.

UPDATE, 9:06 p.m.: Sabathia made 33 starts this season and walked as many as three in a game — never mind an inning — only 10 times.

UPDATE, 9:16 p.m.: Another Sabathia walk. Another double play. Another inning-ending strikeout.

UPDATE, 9:33 p.m.: Sabathia never walked five in a game this season. He just reach that number tonight with his second walk to — of all people — free swinging Austin Jackson.

UPDATE, 9:37 p.m.: Santiago is in this lineup specifically to face Sabathia, and he just singled in a run on a 1-2 pitch. It’s 2-1 in the third.

UPDATE, 9:38  p.m.: Bases loaded for Miguel Cabrera. This may be the at-bat of the game.

UPDATE, 9:40 p.m.: Double play ties the game, but it’s far from the worst-case scenario in that situation. Have to consider that a huge plus for CC and the Yankees.

UPDATE, 9:51 p.m.: Good grief, that’s a heckuva curveball from Verlander. Swisher goes down looking and it’s still 2-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth. Sabathia’s already thrown 63 pitches.

UPDATE, 10:19 p.m.: Santiago does it again, this time an RBI double to put the Tigers in the lead, 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth. This was Leyland’s big move of the series, and it’s paying off big time right now.

UPDATE, 10:40 p.m.: That’s it for Sabathia. He threw 106 pitches through 5.1 innings and here’s Soriano to finish off the sixth. Six walks is the most in a game for Sabathia since April of 2010.

UPDATE, 10:55 p.m.: Martin plunked at 100 mph. The Yankees have a runner at second base for the first time since the first inning.

UPDATE, 11:00 p.m.: Huge double by Gardner, and a huge handclap for him as he settles into second base. A walk, hit batter and now the double — all with two outs — have tied the game in the seventh.

UPDATE, 11:03 p.m.: Seems like every single Yankee gestured or said something to Gardner as they took the field for the bottom of the seventh. He’s given this team new life.

YANKEES (1-0)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF

RHP Freddy Garcia (12-8, 3.62)
Garcia vs. Tigers

TIGERS (0-1)
Austin Jackson CF
Magglio Ordonez RF
Delmon Young LF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Alex Avila C
Jhonny Peralta SS
Wilson Betemit 3B
Ramon Santiago 2B

RHP Max Scherzer (15-9, 4.43)
Scherzer vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 3:07., TBS

WEATHER: It’s a day game, and a nice day for one. A few clouds in the sky, breeze blowing right to left.

UMPIRES: HP Eric Cooper, 1B Gerry Davis, 2B Dan Iassogna, 3B Ted Barrett, LF Bill Welke, RF Tony Randazzo

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE: The Yankees were a Major League-best 44-12 in day games this season, the highest -ever winning percentage in day games since 1900. According to Elias, the previous high came in 1906, when the Cubs went 116-36 during day games.

GOING DEEP: Tigers starter Max Scherzer gives up a lot of home runs, the Yankees led the Majors with 222 home runs this season. The Rangers and Red Sox were the only other teams to hit more than 200 homers this season.

STAYING CENTRAL: The Yankees are facing an AL Central team in the ALDS for the fifth straight season. They went 22-14 against the AL Central this season.

LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN: The Yankees have now won seven straight ALDS games, the longest ever ALDS winning streak. It’s the second-longest LDS winning streak behind the Braves who won 10 in a row from 1995 through 1998.

UPDATE, 3:11 p.m.: Might be a double into the corner in a lot of stadiums. Here, it’s a two-run homer by Miguel Cabrera, and the Tigers are up 2-0.

UPDATE, 3:35 p.m.: Garcia comes back with a scoreless second inning, keeping the game at 2-0 after Teixeira failed to take advantage of back-to-back two-out walks in the bottom of the first.

UPDATE, 3:40 p.m.: Yankees didn’t show much in the bottom of the second, went down in order without putting up much of a fight.

UPDATE, 3:47 p.m.: Pretty standard third inning for Garcia: Three soft outs surrounding one routine single. Still 2-0 heading into the bottom of the inning.

UPDATE, 4:14 p.m.: Scherzer is seriously dealing. He looked scared of the heart of the order in the first inning, now he’s just plowed through Cano, Rodriguez and Teixeira in the fourth.

UPDATE, 4:34 p.m.: Scherzer still has a no-hitter going, but he’s also at 81 pitches and the Tigers have Phil Coke getting loose.

UPDATE, 4:36 p.m.: Gardner sharp line out to third, Jeter grounder to short and Scherzer is through five innings with no hits and a 2-0 Tigers lead.

UPDATE, 4:46 p.m.: No long ball, but Cabrera gets the job done with an RBI single to center field. It’s now a 3-0 Tigers lead, with this run made possible by Derek Jeter’s throwing error to start the inning.

UPDATE, 4:49 p.m.: Garcia’s finished after 5.1 innings. A series of singles and the Jeter error really hurt him in the sixth and the Tigers are up 4-0 with Boone Logan in to face Alex Avila. This is pretty much the one guy Logan’s supposed to get out this series.

UPDATE, 4:55 p.m.: Logan gets back to back strikeouts against dangerous hitters and gets the Yankees out of a sticky situation. It’s still 4-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

UPDATE, 5:04 p.m.: Cano dunks a single just in front of Delmon Young. It’s enough to break up the no-hitter, but Rodriguez followed with a fly out to right and the Yankees are down to their last out in the sixth, still trailing 4-0.

UPDATE, 5:06 p.m.: Teixeira pops out, and that’s that. Still 4-0 after six. Here comes Cory Wade.

UPDATE, 5:22 p.m.: Swisher walked and Posada singled, and now the Yankees have two on for the third time tonight.

UPDATE, 5:28 p.m.: Unless Gardner is hurt, this makes little sense. Chavez is 3-for-14 in his career against Benoit.

UPDATE, 5:37 p.m.: Quick work to get some dry dirt on the field, now the Yankees are ready to get going again in the top of the eighth.

UPDATE, 6:00 p.m.: Granderson goes deep, but as Rodriguez pops up for the second out of the inning, the crowd lets him hear it with boos.

UPDATE, 6:22 p.m.: So the Yankees could barely get a hit off Scherzer, but now they have a home run and a triple to start the ninth inning against Valverde? By the way, that was Posada’s first career postseason triple. It’s 5-2.

YANKEES (97-65)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF

RHP Ivan Nova (16-4, 3.70)
Nova vs. Tigers

TIGERS (95-67)
Austin Jackson CF
Magglio Ordonez RF
Delmon Young LF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Alex Avila C
Ryan Raburn 2B
Jhonny Peralta SS
Brandon Inge 3B

RHP Doug Fister (11-13, 2.83)
Fister vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 8:37., TBS

WEATHER: I thought last night felt like a great night, and then came the rain. Tonight feels like rain, so maybe it will be perfect.

UMPIRES: HP Tony Randazzo, 1B Eric Cooper, 2B Gerry Davis, 3B Dan Iassogna, LF Ted Barrett, RF Bill Welke

STARTING IN THE MIDDLE: The Yankees and Tigers are tied at 1 in the middle of the second inning. The game will resume exactly where it left off, with Jorge Posada due up to start the bottom of the second.

FIRST TIME EXPERIENCE: The suspended game is the first since the January 2009 rule amendment that says all postseason games become suspended games if they can called, regardless of how many innings have been played or the score at the time the game is called.

YOUNG ONE: If/when Jesus Montero makes his postseason debut, he will be the youngest Yankee to appear in a playoff game since Tommy Carrol, who was 19 during the 1955 World Series.

ON THIS DATE: Today marks the 50th anniversary of Roger Maris hitting his record-setting 61st home run on the final day of the 1961 season.

UPDATE, 8:33PM: Vin Mercogliano here to do the in-game blogging. The Tigers just took the field to loud boos. No rain right now, and we’re all set to start on time. Kind of odd to see the Yankees batting first at home, but we’ve come to expect the unexpected at this point.

UPDATE, 8:39PM: Yanks off to a good start. Sharp single from Posada, then double in the left-center field gap from Martin. Think they’re glad to see Fister out there instead of Verlander?

UPDATE, 8:41PM: Bad base-running from Posada cost the Yankees the lead runner, but a Fister balk puts runners back on the 2nd and 3rd with one out and Jeter at the plate.

UPDATE, 8:46PM: Missed opportunity for the Yanks. Fister K’s Jeter and Granderson back-to-back to escape the jam. That’s a situation where you have to come away with something. Here comes Nova.

UPDATE, 8:52PM: Nova gets the Tigers to go 1-2-3 in his first inning of work. He just seems to have the composure to succeed in this setting.

UPDATE, 8:59PM: Fister really appears to have settled down. He gets the toughest part of the Yankee order to go down 1-2-3, striking out A-Rod and Teixeira.

UPDATE, 9:08PM: Nova looks like he’s relishing this stage. Another 1-2-3 inning, punctuated with a strikeout of Cabrera.

UPDATE, 9:18PM: Well, this may be the fastest moving Yankee game of the season. That’s two straight innings without a base-runner for either team.

UPDATE, 9:29PM: Great defensive play from the Yanks to save a run. Peralta singled to center with runners on 1st and 2nd, and they decided to send Avila. A beautiful relay throw from Jeter set up Martin to apply the tag just in time and keep the game tied at 1-1.

UPDATE, 9:32PM: Nova gets out of the inning by inducing pinch-hitter (and former Yank) Wilson Betemit to fly out to left. Hard to believe it’s only 9:30 and we’re already almost in the sixth.

UPDATE, 9:42PM: What looked like a Cano homer is now under review. The ball bounced on the very top of the wall, and came back into play. If it bounced the opposite way, it’s a no doubt homer. Interesting to see how they call it here.

UPDATE, 9:45PM: As expected, no homer. Just an RBI double for Cano. A-Rod gives the first pitch he sees a ride to center, but Jackson is there to track it down. Inning over. 2-1 Yanks.

UPDATE, 9:53PM: Nice defensive work from the Yankees to work around a leadoff walk to Jackson. First, Ordonez hits a ball straight back up to the middle, setting up an easy double play for Cano who fielded the ball while standing on second base. Then, Swisher makes a diving play towards the RF line to rob Young of extra bases.

UPDATE, 9:57PM: Great sign to see Tex driving the ball to the opposite field from the left-side of the plate. Apparently, he’s put in extra work with Kevin Long this week.

UPDATE, 10:01PM: Even with Nova throwing well and only at 52 pitches, Girardi has Rafael Soriano warming in the pen. Should he start messing with things even when they’re going well?

UPDATE, 10:07PM: Clutch two-out, two-run single from Gardner gives the Yanks a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

UPDATE, 10:14PM: Another good at-bat from Granderson, and the bases are loaded after a two-out walk. Here comes the rookie everyone has been raving about, Al Alburquerque, to pitch to Cano.

UPDATE, 10:18PM: Cano paying huge dividends from the 3-hole. As Alburquerque was warming up, I tweeted that it seems like every time an opposing manager makes a pitching change for Robby recently, he seems to make them pay. He just came through again with the two-out grand slam. It’s 8-1 Yanks.

UPDATE, 10:21PM: Chad just informed me that that’s the first homer given up by Alburquerque all season. Wow.

UPDATE, 10:24PM: Nova comes back out, but Soriano is staying loose in the pen. You would think with a seven-run lead and four games in a row without a day off that Girardi would use this opportunity to save his big guns.

UPDATE, 10:32PM: Nova K’s Raburn to get out of the seventh with no damage. Very impressive showing for the rookie in his first playoff appearance.

UPDATE, 10:49PM: Nova back out for the eighth. Could he finish this game?

UPDATE, 10:59PM: No activity in the Yankee pen, so this appears to be Nova’s game to finish.

UPDATE, 11:09PM: Robinson Cano ties a Yankee record on an RBI double in the eighth; his sixth RBI of the day. It’s the fourth time a Yankee has had six in a playoff game, and it’s the first time since Hideki Matsui did it in Game 6 of the 2009 World Series.

UPDATE, 11:20PM: That’s it for Nova, who comes out to a ringing ovation. Here comes Luis Ayala with the bases loaded to try and get the final two outs.

UPDATE, 11:29PM: Old Joe goes to Mo to finish out the game after Ayala fails to record the final out.

UPDATE, 11:32PM: Rivera with the three pitch strikeout. Ballgame over, 9-3. Yanks take a 1-0 series lead.

YANKEES (97-65)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF

LHP CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.00)
Sabathia vs. Tigers

TIGERS (95-67)
Austin Jackson CF
Magglio Ordonez RF
Delmon Young LF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Alex Avila C
Ryan Raburn 2B
Jhonny Peralta SS
Brandon Inge 3B

RHP Justin Verlander
Verlander vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 8:37., TBS

WEATHER: Feels perfect outside. Very slight breeze. Not hot or cold. Just a gorgeous night.

UMPIRES: HP Tony Randazzo, 1B Eric Cooper, 2B Gerry Davis, 3B Dan Iassogna, LF Ted Barrett, RF Bill Welke

CLOSER AT THE BEGINNING: Mariano Rivera threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and he threw it to Jorge Posada. Pretty cool.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: CC Sabathia is making his eighth career Game 1 start, including all round. He ties Whitey Ford and Roger Clemens for the second-most Game 1 starts all time behind Greg Maddux (11). His five career Game 1 wins are tied with John Smoltz and Red Ruffing for the most in postseason history. Since joining the Yankees in 2009, Sabathia has started Game 1 in each of the club’s five postseason series, going 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA (31.2IP, 12ER). The five straight Game 1 starts is the longest such streak in club history.

WINNING: The Yankees have swept each of their past two ALDS matchups, both against Minnesota. Their current six-game winning streak in ALDS games is tied for the longest all time.

ONE AWAY: With one hit, Posada will pass Kenny Lofton for the fourth-most postseason hits all time. Posada currently has 97. Derek Jeter is the all-time leader with 185… Jeter needs two homers to tie Bernie Williams for the second-most postseason home runs all-time with 22.

Update, 8:46: Sabathia was dominant in the first expect for that one pitch to Young. Of course, that was a big one, a solo homer to put the Tigers up 1-0.

Update, 8:56: Brian Heyman to continue the in-game blogging. It’s 1-1 on A-Rod’s RBI bouncer. And it’s raining.

Update, 9:08: Rain delay. The home plate area was becoming a muddy mess.

Update, 9:15:  Bad news if you’re a player assigned to Triple-A by the Yankees next season. You’re living out of a suitcase. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees will have six home venues because of reconstruction at PNC Field – Rochester, Syracuse, Batavia, Buffalo, Allentown and the Red Sox’s Triple-A home in Pawtucket.

Update, 9:37: The tarp is coming off. There’s more rain in the forecast into tomorrow night.  

Update, 9:49: Tarp is back on. It’s raining hard.

YANKEES (97-63)
Eduardo Nunez SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF

RHP Bartolo Colon (8-10, 4.02)
Colon vs. Rays

RAYS (89-71)
Desmond Jennings LF
B.J. Upton CF
Evan Longoria 3B
Matt Joyce RF
Johnny Damon DH
Ben Zobrist 2B
Sean Rodriguez 1B
Kelly Shoppach C
Reid Brignac SS

RHP Jeremy Hellickson (13-10, 2.90)
Hellickson vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 7:10., MY9

WEATHER: Still rainy outside. Still loving the dome.

UMPIRES: HP Chad Fairchild, 1B Joe West, 2B Sam Holbrook, 3B Paul Schrieber

BEYOND SPORTS UNITED: Today, more than 70 sports teams from across the United States and the world gathered at Beyond Sport United at Yankee Stadium. The unique event assembles influential figures from all major U.S. sports and their teams to address their role in triggering positive social change in the communities they serve.

GOING DEEP: The Yankees lead the Majors with 218 home runs. They’ve hit 96 on the road and 122 at home. The Yankees are one of only two teams to record 200 homers this season (Texas has 203) and they have reached the plateau for the 11th time in the past 12 years (all but 2008).

ON THIS DATE: On September 27, 1998, the yankees beat Tampa Bay on the season’s finale day to improve to 114-48, a .704 winning percentage. They were the first team since the 194 Indians to finish with a winning percentage higher than .700.

UPDATE, 7:38 p.m.: First Johnny Damon passed Lou Gehrig on the all-time hits list, then Ben Zobrist hit a 1-2 pitch for a two-run home run and a 2-0 Rays lead in the second inning.

UPDATE, 7:52 p.m.: Martin goes deep and it’s a 2-1 Rays lead in the third.

UPDATE, 7:59 p.m.: Wow. Pitching around Cano to face Rodriguez with two on in the third inning.

UPDATE, 8:38 p.m.: Granderson managed to tie the game, but he did it with a double-play ball to short. It’s 2-2 in the fifth as Joyce runs down a fly ball by Cano.

UPDATE, 8:56 p.m.: The Yankees took a 3-2 lead in the sixth, but Martin just grounded into a triple play with the bases loaded. That’s a punch to the gut (or it would be if this game mattered to the Yankees).

UPDATE, 9:27 p.m.: There goes that. Soriano walked two straight, then gave up a three-run homer to Matt Joyce, and it’s now a 5-3 Rays lead in the seventh.

YANKEES (97-62)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Jorge Posada 1B
Eric Chavez 3B
Russell Martin C
Eduardo Nunez RF
Brett Gardner LF

RHP Hector Noesi (2-1, 4.14)
Noesi vs. Rays

RAYS (88-71)
Desmond Jennings LF
B.J. Upton CF
Evan Longoria 3B
Ben Zobrist 2B
Johnny Damon DH
Matt Joyce RF
Casey Kotchman 1B
Kelly Shoppach C
Reid Brignac SS

RHP James Shields (15-12, 2.84)
Shields vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 7:10., YES Network

WEATHER: It’s storming outside, with thunder shaking the doom and rain peppering the roof. The sound is incredible. This is the one and only thing to love about domes (except Seattle, that stadium is pretty awesome).

UMPIRES: HP Paul Schrieber, 1B Chad Fairchild, 2B Joe West, 3B Sam Holbrook

IN THE BEGINNING: The Yankees are 28-25 in series openers in 2011. They have a 35-16 record in the second game of a series.

AT THE END: Six of the Yankees’ past nine losses have come in their opponent’s last at-bat. Four of their past six road losses have been walk-offs.

SECOND AT SECOND: Second baseman Robinson Cano ranks second in the Majors with 80 extra-base hits. It’s the most such hits by a Yankees left-handed hitter since Don Mattingly had 86 in 1986. Cano has an extra-base hit in nine of his past 13 games.

UPDATE, 7:27 p.m.: Nice play by Jorge Posada — and a good-enough throw to the plate — gets Noesi out of the first inning with a 1-0 lead. I was in the dining room for Cano’s first-inning home run, but seeing it on television was more than enough to know he crushed it to center.

UPDATE, 7:44 p.m.: Noesi through two scoreless. Could have enough pitches to throw two more innings at this rate, maybe more if he has a quick inning in there.

UPDATE, 7:58 p.m.: Another RBI by Cano and it’s 2-0 Yankees in the middle of the third. Just now noticing just how many empty seats are in this place. Shame.

UPDATE, 8:12 p.m.: At this point, Noesi is not really used to pitching more than two innings or so at a time, and the Rays have really gotten to him quickly here in the third. A single, walk and two-run double have tie the game, still with no outs.

UPDATE, 8:14 p.m.: Playing Hey Joe when Girardi comes to the mound in Tampa never gets old for me. Noesi couldn’t get an out in the third inning and now Raul Valdes — who may be pitching for a postseason role — is in to face Ben Zobrist with two on and the game tied in the third.

UPDATE, 8:25 p.m.: Valdes strikes out Zobrist, gives up an RBI single to Damon, and gets out of the inning thanks to a caught stealing and an out at the plate. Posada hasn’t always made it look pretty, but twice today he’s gotten the job done with double plays ending with throws to the plate.

UPDATE, 8:38 p.m.: Solo shot by Shoppach and it’s a 4-2 Rays lead.

UPDATE, 8:43 p.m.: One of the better catches we’ve seen all season, no doubt. Desmond Jennings just tracked a sure double into the left-center gap and absolutely robbed Derek Jeter of extra bases. It was one of those moments when I never thought he had a chance to catch it until it was in his glove.

UPDATE, 8:45 p.m.: Here’s comes Phil Hughes to pitch the fifth.

UPDATE, 8:58 p.m.: Well that was odd. Obviously Martin was having some word with Schrieber, but it’s hard to believe the ump would step in front of Martin to continue the fight, then toss Martin for snapping back. Martin might have been upset, but he wasn’t showing up Schrieber.

UPDATE, 9:12 p.m.: Hughes has faced seven batters. He’s walked two, induced two harmless popups, and seen three balls hit pretty hard (two outs and a double).

UPDATE, 9:15 p.m.: A 3-2 curveball from Hughes strikes out Shappach, and that’s Hughes’ last pitch of the day. Here’s Kontos with two outs and a runner at second in the sixth. Hughes threw 36 pitches, 1.2 innings.

UPDATE, 9:19 p.m.: Kontos strikes out Brignac at roughly the exact same time that the Orioles took a 3-2 lead against the Red Sox.

UPDATE, 9:40 p.m.: Back-to-back walks chase Kontos and Luis Ayala is the Yankees fifth pitcher of the night. He’s in with two on in the seventh.

YANKEES (97-61)
Eduardo Nunez SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Eric Chavez 3B
Jesus Montero DH
Chris Dickerson LF
Austin Romine C

RHP Ivan Nova (16-4, 3.62)
Nova vs. Red Sox

RED SOX (88-70)
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Carl Crawford LF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Jed Lowrie 3B
J.D. Drew RF
Marco Scutaro SS
Jason Varitek C

RHP John Lackey (12-12, 6.49)
Lackey vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 6:30., YES Network / MLB Network

WEATHER: Cooling down a little bit, but still very nice out for the last regular season home game of the year.

UMPIRES: HP Ted Barrett, 1B Tim McClelland, 2B Marvin Hudson, 3B Mike Everitt

TAKE TWO: This is the first time since 1996 that the Yankees are playing a doubleheader on the final day of the home schedule… This is the fifth doubleheader of the season, the Yankees most since 2006 (also five)… The Yankees have gone 2-0-2 in doubleheaders so far this season.

DUE FOR A LONG ONE: The Yankees and Red Sox played a three-hour game yesterday, and today’s first game lasted just two hours, 59 minutes. It was the first time since 2008 that these two teams played consecutive games in three hours or less.

UPDATE, 6:33 p.m.: A 1-2-3 first inning for Nova, and we’re off and running in Game 2.

UPDATE, 6:41 p.m.: My gosh, the Red Sox are really playing terrible baseball right now. Teixiera’s two-run double turns into a third run because Tex took third on the throw home and scored on Varitek’s awful throw to third base. It’s a 3-0 Yankees lead in the bottom of the first.

UPDATE, 7:11 p.m.: Nova strikes out Ellsbury to end the third with a runner left at second. He looks as good as ever right now.

UPDATE, 8:05 p.m.: Sorry, been writing during much of this second game. Nova just allowed a run in the fifth and another in the sixth, Austin Romine managed to turn a wild pitch into an out with a diving tag — more of a sliding, lunging tag — at the plate. It’s a 3-2 Yankees lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. Nova’s thrown 88 pitches, and there’s no activity in the Yankees bullpen.

UPDATE, 8:18 p.m.: Obviously Girardi wanted Nova to get through to the lefties at the top of the Boston order, but sticking with Nova until now led to two more runs and a 4-3 Red Sox lead in the seventh. Boone Logan is now in to face at least Ellsbury and Crawford.

UPDATE, 8:25 p.m.: Logan strikes out Ellsbury and picks off Gathright to get out of the seventh.

UPDATE, 8:29 p.m.: Chavez leadoff single. Gardner in to pinch run. Aceves coming out of the bullpen for the Red Sox.

UPDATE, 8:39 p.m.: Dickerson’s sac fly has tied the game at 4 heading into the eighth. Soriano coming in to pitch.

UPDATE, 8:49 p.m.: Austin Romine is this year’s Greg Golson, throwing out Carl Crawford in a key spot in September.

UPDATE, 9:41 p.m.: Pitching change gives me a few seconds to look away from my running game story… Big moment for Romine in the bottom of the ninth, but he’s probably never seen a pitch quite like that one from Papelbon. Girardi gave the kid a chance, and Romine went down swinging.

UPDATE, 10:41 p.m.: Laffey still in for the 13th inning. It’s officially getting late, and the Yankees haven’t had many great chances to score since that bases-loaded opportunity in the ninth. I’m really regretting the decision to book a 6:30 a.m. flight.

UPDATE, 11:30 p.m.: Ellsbury three-run bomb off Scott Proctor. It’s a 7-4 Red Sox lead in the 14th.

YANKEES (96-61)
Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada DH
Andruw Jones LF
Russell Martin C
Chris Dickerson RF
Brandon Laird 1B
Ramiro Pena 2B

RHP A.J. Burnett (10-11, 5.28)
Burnett vs. Red Sox

RED SOX (88-69)
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Carl Crawford LF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Conor Jackson RF
Marco Scutaro SS
Jarrod Saltalamacchia C
Mike Aviles 3B

RHP Tim Wakefield (7-7, 5.08)
Wakefield vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 1:05., YES Network / TBS

WEATHER: Sunny and warm here in the Bronx. Little bit of wind blowing from left to right.

UMPIRES: HP Brian Runge, 1B Ted Barrett, 2B Tim McClelland, 3B Marvin Hudson

SHOWING UP: The Yankees lead the American League in home attendance (3,555,067) and average home attendance (45,001). This is the ninth straight season the franchise has led the AL in attendance. Their 18 home sellouts are the most in the three-year history of the current Yankee Stadium.

WRAPPING UP: The Yankees are 34-16 in the second game of a series thus far in 2011. They are 33-19 in series finales, but have lost four of their past five in series of three-or-more games. The Yankees are 18-8 in finales at home this season.

THE FULL MONTY: Jesus Montero has recorded back-to-back 3H, multiple-RBI games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other Yankees rookies to accomplish that feat since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920 were Bob Meusel in 1920 and Robinson Cano in 2005.

MAGIC NUMBER: The Yankees have clinched a playoff spot, a division title and home-field advantage. The magic number is, I guess, zero.

UPDATE, 1:37 p.m.: Kind of amazing to watch how poorly this Boston team is playing. Ellsbury picked off. Two mistakes by Saltalamacchia. It’s a 2-0 Yankees lead, and they haven’t hit the ball out of the infield.

UPDATE, 1:56 p.m.: Nice play by Pena to get the last out of the third. Burnett looks good so far. Still a 2-0 game heading into the bottom of the third.

UPDATE, 2:01 p.m.: Posada goes deep and the Yankees are up 4-0 in the third. Curtain call for Jorge.

UPDATE, 2:32 p.m.: Burnett is through five innings with a 4-1 Yankees lead. Ellsbury took him deep in the third, but otherwise he’s been pretty impressive against a Red Sox team that just keeps limping to the finish line.

UDPATE, 2:56 p.m.: Ellsbury’s second homer is his 30th of the year. Say what you will about the Red Sox, their leadoff man has had an incredible year.

UPDATE, 3:00 p.m.: Fans have booed him a couple of times today, but Burnett is through six innings having allowed just three hits (two of them solo homers by Ellsbury). He’s pitched pretty well today.

UPDATE, 3:11 p.m.: The captain doubles in a run and it’s 6-2 Yankees in the sixth. Jeter’s hitting .300 with four games to play.

UPDATE, 3:18 p.m.: That’s a nice play by Laird to start a 3-6-1 double play in the seventh. Burnett is still out there with Soriano getting loose in the bullpen.

UPDATE, 3:35 p.m.: Burnett’s final start of the year is going to be one of his best. He’s still out there in the eighth, the first time he’s pitched this far into a game since June 13.

UPDATE, 3:36 p.m.: Scratch that. Forgot about the eight innings on July 29. So this is the second time he’s gotten an out in the eighth inning since June 13.

UPDATE, 3:39 p.m.: Huge ovation for Burnett, who’s pulled after 7.2 innings and back-to-back strikeouts. Robertson is in to face Ellsbury — Girardi talked pregame about wanting to use relievers in situations that might come up in the postseason — and Burnett has his finest start since early June.

UPDATE, 3:43 p.m.: Was that a changeup from Robertson? Brought in to get a lefty, and he’s able to go to that pitch? This is part of the reason the Yankees don’t have to have a second lefty in the bullpen, because in the late innings, they can bring Robertson — or, I guess, Soriano — to get a tough lefty in a tough spot. If Logan can get a key lefty in the fifth or sixth, one of those two setup relievers can handle the key left-handed at-bats in the seventh and eighth. The ninth is spoken for, obviously.