In the bottom of the first inning Yankees starter A.J. Burnett was already on the ropes, as the righty had no command. A.J., who was trying to tame the Detroit Tigers, while pushing the ALDS back to the Bronx, had walked three batters-putting himself in a situation where the bases were loaded with Tigers.

It was with two outs, when the Yankees had that game-changing moment that has helped lifted other teams to the World Series. It was with two outs that a long fly ball by Don Kelly was caught-on an amazingly acrobatic play by Bombers center fielder Curtis Granderson.

Granderson, who once proudly roamed the center field position at Comerica Park, made an amazing leaping grab at Kelly’s ball-as the Yankees outfielder fully extended his body outwardly to make the grab.

After that super-human effort by Granderson, both Burnett and the Yankees got their swagger back,  as the offense exploded for 13 hits-scoring 10 times…to force a critical Game Five of the ALDS.

Helping to lead that offensive explosion was Derek Jeter, who helped to get the Bombers on the board in the top of the third inning. The Yankees Captain ripped a double, which gave New York a 2-0 lead.

Alex Rodriguez recorded his first RBI of the post season, finishing the night with two hits for New York, while young-slugger Robinson Cano drove in two runs for the Yankees.

Now the series goes back to the Bronx, and the baseball is handed over to rookie-sensation Ivan Nova-who has shined in his starts for the Yankees. Nova will be countered by Doug Fister, with Game Five on Thursday scheduled to start at 8:07 p.m.

Written on October 5, 2011