Now that the Tigers have moved on to the ALCS, they will have their ace ready to start game one against the Texas Rangers in Arlington.
Leyland used his staff wisely in New York; Joaquin Benoit in relief is a key for the next series. Jose Valverde is 51 for 51 in save situations. Slugger Miguel Cabrera knows he will get some good pitches to hit as Victor Martinez will be batting behind him.
The Yankees had five innings of scoring opportunities to break the game open to their favor. Valverde, the stopper, pitched the ninth 1-2-3, to seal the 3-2 victory.
Verlander confirmed he’ll pitch Saturday night to open the series at Rangers Ballpark in Texas. After winning the series in New York, a very subdued Verlander said, “This is just the first step. We have two more steps to go.”
Verlander did his side-line throwing before Game 5, a normal practice. Leyland even came up and teased him. The experienced skipper is trying to keep everyone upbeat and light.
Leyland was cautiously jubilant after the game. “The Yankees are so good that I would be lying if I said it didn’t give me a little extra satisfaction to be able to do it here in the fifth game,” said Leyland postgame. “I don’t mean that disrespectfully, I mean that respectfully. … I was just talking to Dave Dombrowski — other than the American League pennant and the World Series, this will be a game I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Added Dombrowski, the club’s president and general manager, “He (Valverde) backed it up, and I give him credit. He put himself in a position where he was under a lot of pressure in the ninth inning. He rolls with it. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. He is great at that. He gets the job done.”
Pitching and defense wins in post season baseball. The Tigers can muster enough good pitching. Defense for the Tigers is their ‘black hole’ and if this team has a destiny earmarked for the World Series, the manager will have to juggle his lineup. Leyland must somehow impart, emphasize and motivate fundamentally smart defensive play.