Associated Press
NEW YORK ó This is no time for the New York Yankees to stop hitting. Justin Verlander is on deck for Detroit, and he figures to pitch more than one inning Monday.
Unable to finish off a late rally in the rain, New York was beaten by Max Scherzer and the Tigers 5-3 on Sunday, tying their best-of-five American League playoff at a game apiece.
Shut out until the eighth, the Yankees tried to fight back on solo homers by Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher. Jorge Posada hit his first postseason triple in the ninth and Detroit catcher Alex Avila slipped on a slick on-deck circle, preventing him from catching a foul popup for the final out.
That seemed to be just the break New York needed to complete a comeback from a four-run deficit. But closer Jose Valverde, perfect in 49 save chances this season, retired Game 1 star Robinson Cano on a grounder with two on to end it.
Derek Jeter made a costly error at shortstop for the Yankees and went 0 for 5. He struck out twice in key spots in the late innings.
Scherzer silenced Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and the rest of a New York lineup that scored nine runs in the series opener. The right-hander held the Yankees hitless until the sixth.