Detroit closing pitcher Jose Valverde held off New York's bid for a ninth-inning rally as the Tigers defeated the Yankees 5-3 Sunday to knot their Major League Baseball playoff series at one game each. Playing a game pushed back a day after rain disrupted the American League first-round series opener Friday, the Tigers were nearly tripped up by rain again. The Yankees scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to close the deficit and give themselves a chance to win. Detroit missed one chance to end the danger when Tigers' catcher Alex Avila slipped on the slick on-deck circle trying to catch a ball popped up foul by Curtis Granderson for the final out. Granderson eventually drew a walk and Robinson Cano — who hit a grand slam and had six RBIs to help the Yankees win game one — came up with two outs and runners on first and second base, but Valverde was able to induce him to ground out. Tigers manager Jim Leland admitted feeling the tension as the Yankees crept closer. Detroit starting pitcher Max Scherzer pitched six innings without allowing a hit as the Tigers take the best-of-five series home for games three and four. Scherzer had the breathing room offered by Miguel Cabrera's two-run homer in the first off Freddy Garcia, and after a two-run sixth the Tigers took a 4-0 lead into the eighth. Curtis Granderson hit a solo homer off Tigers reliever Joaquin Benoit in the eighth, and shortly after the rain arrived and set the stage for the dramatic finish. Sunday was supposed to be a rest day in the series, but game one was called Friday night after just 1 1/2 innings because of heavy rain. That doused the anticipated match-up of aces C.C. Sabathia and Justin Verlander, but managers of both teams said it would be back on in Detroit Monday. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Sunday he will give the ball to Sabathia for game three, while Tigers manager Jim Leyland had already said Verlander would pitch game three. The other American League series resumes Monday in St. Petersburg, Florida, with hosts Tampa Bay tied 1-1 with defending AL champions Texas after two games in Dallas.
