This game might've gone so differently had Curtis Granderson not caught Don Kelly's bases-loaded liner in the first. But he did catch it, so the game has not gone differently. And what the game is, now, is a blowout.
Tigers vs. Yankees: Detroit Bullpen Melts Down As Blowout Takes Shape
This was a 4-1 game in the Yankees' favor coming into the eighth. With David Robertson and Mariano Rivera available, the three-run lead was probably already sufficient. But the Yankees added on. They loaded the bases with three consecutive singles off Phil Coke. In came reliable strikeout reliever Al Alburquerque to try to keep things within striking distance, but Alburquerque almost immediately committed a balk:
That made it 5-1. Jesus Montero singled to make it 6-1. Russell Martin walked, prompting Jim Leyland to replace Alburquerque with Daniel Schlereth, and then Brett Gardner singled to make it 7-1.
But wait! There's more. Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson struck out, but a wild pitch during Granderson's plate appearance made it 8-1. Then Robinson Cano singled to make it 10-1, chasing Schlereth and bringing in Ryan Perry. Alex Rodriguez greeted Perry with a line drive single into left. Finally, Mark Teixeira made the third out, on a deep shot to right that Don Kelly flagged down in front of the track.
To the bottom half of the eighth we go, and oh who even cares now
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