Baseball

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Tigers terminate Yanks

Detroit cruises to World Series with sweep

By: Noah Trister

Posted: 10/19/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Paul Sancya / the associated press From left: Tigers Gerald Laird, Phil Coke and Jhonny Peralta celebrate after an 8-1 win and a 4-0 ALCS sweep of the New York Yankees. (CP)

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DETROIT -- Prince Fielder waved his arms frantically, gleefully calling off his teammates while the crowd at Comerica Park roared.

From the moment the big first baseman signed his massive contract in January, an entire city had been waiting for a chance to celebrate like this. After another dazzling effort by Detroit's starting pitchers and another soaring home run by Miguel Cabrera, Fielder caught the final out to send the Tigers to the World Series -- with a sweep of the New York Yankees, no less.

"There's still along way to go but this is an awesome feeling," Fielder said.

Max Scherzer capped a stupendous stretch for Detroit's rotation, and the Tigers won their second pennant in seven years by beating the Yankees 8-1 Thursday for a four-game sweep of the AL championship series.

Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta hit two-run homers in a four-run fourth inning against CC Sabathia, who was unable to prevent the Yankees from getting swept in a post-season series for the first time in 32 years.

"Yeah, we did it," Cabrera said. "It's an unbelievable feeling. ... Four more wins, guys. Four more wins."

Scherzer took a no-hit bid into the sixth against a starting lineup that was again without Alex Rodriguez, who flied out with two on in the sixth as a pinch hitter.

Austin Jackson added a solo shot in the seventh for Detroit, and Peralta hit another homer an inning later.

The game ended with Fielder, Detroit's $214 million acquisition, catching Jayson Nix's popup. The Tigers spilled onto the field for a celebration that began near second base and eventually moved closer to the third-base line.

General manager Dave Dombrowski hugged Jim Leyland -- who is in the final year of his contract -- while owner Mike Ilitch rubbed the 67-year-old manager's right shoulder.

"I've got a great bunch. We don't have one hot dog in the bunch," the pizza magnate said. "They're all great guys. ... The Tigers are something special."

... The Tigers are something special."

Detroit won its 11th American League pennant and first since 2006. The Tigers have five days off before the World Series starts Wednesday at defending champion St. Louis or 2010 winner San Francisco.

After scoring in just three of 39 innings during the series, New York headed home to face unpleasant questions about its future following a post-season of awful hitting, benched stars and veterans showing the wear and tear of age. Rodriguez, the $275 million third baseman, was out of the starting lineup for the third time in the playoffs. Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera could only watch following season-ending injuries.

The Yankees, with a big league-high $222 million payroll, hit .188 in the post-season -- a record low for a team that played at least seven games -- and .157 in the LCS. New York went quietly in the ninth inning, with the Comerica crowd chanting "Sweep!" while the last three batters were retired in order.

Detroit outhit New York 16-2 in the finale and 46-22 in the series. The Tigers' starters are 4-1 with a 1.02 ERA in this post-season.

After a rainout Wednesday, Game 4 started under a sunny sky, and Detroit immediately took the lead on series MVP Delmon Young's RBI single. Young became the first player with four game-winning RBIs in one post-season series, STATS said.

Avisail Garcia drove in an unearned run in the third with a single before the Tigers broke it open in the fourth.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 19, 2012 C7

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