Tigers stop Yankees in 9th to tie series
NEW YORK - Detroit closer Jose Valverde held off a furious New York ninth-inning rally and the Tigers avoided a major slip-up, beating the Yankees 5-3 on a rainy Sunday and leveling their best-of-five AL playoff series at one game apiece.
Down 5-1, the Yankees scored twice in the ninth. Helped when Detroit catcher Alex Avila lost his footing on the slick on-deck circle while chasing a foul pop that would've been the final out, New York got a chance to win it.
Robinson Cano, who hit a grand slam and had six RBIs as the Yankees won the opener, came up with two outs and runners on first and second. After wiping away raindrops from his helmet, Cano hit a routine groundball to end it.
Tigers starter Max Scherzer pitched no-hit ball into the sixth before Cano hit an opposite-field single to left.
Miguel Cabrera's two-run homer in the first off Freddy Garcia gave Scherzer an early edge, and the Tigers took a 4-0 lead into the eighth.
Curtis Granderson hit a solo homer off Tigers reliever Joaquin Benoit in the eighth.
Game 3 is Monday at Detroit.
Brewers 9, Diamondbacks 4
At Milwaukee, Jonathan Lucroy drove in the winning run and the Milwaukee Brewers showed they could bunt as well as bash, breaking away from the Arizona Diamondbacks to take a 2-0 lead in their NL division series.
Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer and fellow slugger Prince Fielder added an RBI single for Milwaukee.
Lucroy's safety squeeze keyed a five-run sixth inning, and came right after Diamondbacks reliever Brad Ziegler became angry about a balk call.
With the score 4-all and runners at the corners with one out, Jerry Hairston Jr. took a couple of half-steps and sprinted home as Lucroy bunted toward first base. Ziegler's awkward flip went wide of catcher Miguel Montero and the Diamondbacks imploded from there, with Milwaukee taking a 9-4 lead.
Brewers starter Zack Greinke struggled in his first postseason appearance, giving up three home runs and leaving without a decision. He was 11-0 at Miller Park, helping the Brewers win a majors-best 57 games at home.
The Brewers now hold a 2-0 lead in a postseason series for the first time in franchise history. Game 3 is Tuesday at Arizona.
Cardinals 5, Phillies 4
At Philadelphia, Albert Pujols hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning after Cliff Lee blew a four-run lead, and the Cardinals rallied past the Philadelphia Phillies to even their NL playoff matchup at one game each.
After chipping away for a few innings, the Cardinals took the lead in the seventh. Allen Craig led off with a triple off center fielder Shane Victorino's glove. A three-time Gold Glove winner, Victorino misplayed the ball. He had to go a long way to make the catch, but overran it and the ball bounced off his glove.
Pujols, who struck out in his previous two at-bats, lined a single over drawn-in shortstop Jimmy Rollins to give St. Louis a 5-4 lead.
Lee gave up five runs and 12 hits, striking out nine in six-plus innings, to lose his third straight playoff start.
Down 4-0, the Cardinals started their rally in the fourth. Berkman walked and Yadier Molina hit a one-out infield single. Theriot sliced an RBI double down the right-field line and Jay followed with an RBI single to get St. Louis within 4-2.
Rafael Furcal followed with a line-drive single to left. Theriot scored and Jay came rumbling around the bases. Ibanez made a perfect one-hop throw and the ball arrived along with Jay. He slammed into Ruiz, his left forearm knocking the stocky catcher backward. But Ruiz held to temporarily prevent the tying run from scoring.
The series shifts to St. Louis for Game 3 on Tuesday.