DETROIT – Great defense by Curtis Granderson helped A.J. Burnett save the New York Yankees’ season.
The center fielder foiled his ex-team with his glove and Burnett came through when New York needed him most, leading the Yankees past the Detroit Tigers, 10-1, on Tuesday to send the American League Division Series back to the Bronx for a decisive Game 5.
Derek Jeter put the Yankees ahead to stay with a two-run double in the third inning. Granderson also had an RBI double, and New York broke it open with six runs in the eighth.
“We don’t win that game tonight without defense,” Burnett said.
Shaky all season, Burnett started only because Game 1 was suspended by rain Friday, altering the rotation. He was in trouble in the first after loading the bases on walks, but Granderson made a leaping grab of Don Kelly’s line drive in center field, preventing at least three runs.
“I was proud of what he did,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Burnett. “In a must-win situation for us, he pitched one of his best games of the year.”
Game 5 is Thursday in New York. Rookie right-hander Ivan Nova, who shut down the Tigers in the opener, will start against former Mariner Doug Fister.
Saved by Granderson’s glove, Burnett allowed a run and four hits in 52/3 innings.
“I told you, his stuff is so good that he can shut you down. I thought we hit some balls pretty decent. He wasn’t real sharp early. We had our shot,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “That was a big play in the first inning.”
Granderson was on the Detroit team that went to the World Series in 2006, but the Tigers traded him to the Yankees as part of a three-team deal after the 2009 season.
“Don Kelly put a great swing on the ball to the middle of the field and hit it really hard,” Granderson said.
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