Once, you can maybe get away with.
Yankees vs. Tigers: Big Threat Nets Just One Run For Yanks
But leaving the bases loaded twice without scoring, in a close game for all the Division Series marbles?
We’ll not see that tonight.
After pitching a scoreless sixth, Detroit's Max Scherzer came out in the seventh for his second inning of relief. He struck out Brett Gardner and got Derek Jeter to hit a weak grounder to shortstop ... but so weak that Jeter beat Jhonny Peralta's throw to first base by a step.
Though Scherzer seemed to be cruising, Jim Leyland went back to his bullpen, this time for right-hander Joaquin Benoit. The Yankees had switch-hitting Curtis Granderson and lefty Robinson Cano coming up, and Benoit's been fantastic against left-handed hitters this season.
Granderson lined a single into right field, Jeter stopping at second. Cano hit another weak grounder toward shortstop ... far too weak for Peralta to field, and Benoit seemed to misjudge the ball, which skittered passed him for a cheap single.
Bases loaded.
Alex Rodriguez. A moment in time.
A number of moments, actually. It took a while, but Benoit eventually struck out Rodriguez on a sharp change-up.
Two outs. Bases still loaded. Mark Teixeira. Another moment.
Okay, another number of moments, but ultimately Teixeira drew a walk to plate Jeter and draw the Yankees within one run.
Still two outs. Bases still loaded. Nick Swisher.
Who Benoit struck out on a high fastball.
We're into the eighth inning, and now it's Tigers 3, Yankees 2.
And with Benoit laboring in the seventh, you wonder who’s going to pitch the eighth for Detroit. Where’s Justin Verlander when you need him?
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