Tigers manager Jim Leyland called upon All-Star closer Jose Valverde in the top of the ninth Thursday night to close the door on the New York Yankees in a decisive Game 5 of the 2011 ALDS.
The 33-year-old Valverde, who converted all 49 of his save opportunities during the regular season, came through again for Detroit by retiring Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez to eliminate New York and send the Tigers to the ALCS.
Valverde and his teammates celebrated their 3-2 win with the traditional champagne spraying in the clubhouse, knowing they sent the Yankees home packing on New York's field in the Bronx.
Tigers starter Doug Fister allowed just one earned run on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts over five innings, while Max Scherzer and Joaquin Benoit yielded one run over three combined innings of relief to keep the Yankees' potent offense intact.
Don Kelly and Delmon Young set the foundation with back-to-back homers in the first inning, with designated hitter Victor Martinez producing a fifth-inning RBI single to give Fister and the relief core enough run support to escape the Bronx with the win.
"The Yankees are so good that I'd 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," Leyland said. "I don't mean that disrespectfully. I mean that respectfully. So, it gave me a great thrill to be able to do it here in Yankee Stadium in Game 5. It's unbelievable to us."
Without a doubt, it was a collaborative team effort in which the Tigers prevailed to beat the favored Yankees in the best of five.
It couldn't have been done without Valverde, who continues to thrive in a Detroit uniform after spending two seasons with the Astros.
Although Valverde was an effective closer for Houston, as well as with the Arizona Diamondbacks before that, the right-hander fits in perfectly to Detroit's clubhouse culture and has proven to be a tremendous asset for a team seeking a World Series title.
Whether it's Bobby Abreu, Luis Gonzalez, Kenny Lofton or Curt Schilling, Houston fans have watched a great deal of former players move on and excel with other teams over the years.
Valverde represents one of the latest examples.
The three-time All-Star couldn't be happier with his current situation in Detroit, especially after eliminating the Yankees with a perfect ninth.
He's now 51-for-51 in saves for 2011.
"I was a little nervous," Valverde said in regard to having to face Granderson, Cano and A-Rod. "It was great. In my first two games of the series, I was wild. My fastball and my sinker were everywhere. This is an exciting moment for everyone in Detroit. We're getting to jump around and celebrate. My team is doing good.
"With the players on the Yankees, like Alex and Derek Jeter, you have to be on your game as a pitcher. Those guys can win ballgames. It is our moment. It is great to celebrate. We believe. The 51 saves this season is a reflection of how good the team is."
Leyland praises Valverde for a job well done.
"I was thinking about that short porch in right during the ninth inning," Leyland said. "Granderson and Cano, in particular, and of course, A-Rod can easily spit it over that short right-field fence.
"It wasn't an easy task. Valverde was tremendous."
The Tigers kick off the 2011 ALCS Saturday night when AL Cy Young Award candidate Justin Verlander gets the start versus fellow ace C.J. Wilson and Texas at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT.
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