SB Nation Detroit - ALDS Game 5: Tigers Beat Yankees, 3-2, Advance To ALCShttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48919/detroit-fave.png2011-10-07T13:11:45-04:00http://detroit.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22360272011-10-07T13:11:45-04:002011-10-07T13:11:45-04:00VIDEO: Little Victor Pours Champagne On Big Victor
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<p>Throughout this season, <span>Victor Martinez's</span> son, Victor Jose Martinez, has been pretty involved with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a>. He almost always is on the field for batting practice and often participates in it, he hangs out with players and he even <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/7/6/2263124/victor-martinezs-six-year-old-son-is-adorable-and-hed-really-like-it">campaigned for his dad</a> to be in the 2011 MLB All-Star Game.</p>↵<p>On Thursday night, Little Victor got to take part in the celebration after the Tigers beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> in <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/5/2471986/mlb-playoffs-2011-tigers-vs-yankees-alds-game-5">Game 5</a>. Big Victor poured some champagne on him, and then Little Victor returned the favor:</p>↵<p><iframe title="Twitvid video player" class="twitvid-player" type="text/html" src="http://www.twitvid.com/embed.php?guid=JQTT7&autoplay=0" width="300" frameborder="0" height="225"></iframe></p>↵<p>Hopefully Little Victor will get to take part in two more champagne celebrations in the next few weeks.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/7/2475464/victor-martinez-tigers-game-5-celebrationSean Yuille2011-10-07T11:58:32-04:002011-10-07T11:58:32-04:00VIDEO: Jim Leyland Smooches Jose Valverde After Tigers' Game 5 Victory
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<p>I'm not quite sure what <span>Jose Valverde</span> said in his interview with ESPN after the <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/5/2471986/mlb-playoffs-2011-tigers-vs-yankees-alds-game-5"><span class="sbn-auto-link">Tigers</span>' 3-2 win</a> over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> in Game 5, but it doesn't really matter. The best part about the video after the jump is when Jim Leyland comes over during the interview and kisses Valverde on the cheek. (Via <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ChrisVannini/status/122334885221376000">Chris Vannini</a>)</p>
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<p>You can definitely tell Leyland loves his closer.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/7/2475334/jim-leyland-jose-valverde-tigers-yankees-game-5Sean Yuille2011-10-07T11:34:42-04:002011-10-07T11:34:42-04:00VIDEO: Joaquin Benoit's Band-Aid Becomes Game 5 Storyline (Sort Of)
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<p>When the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a> brought in <span>Joaquin Benoit</span> in the seventh inning of <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/5/2471986/mlb-playoffs-2011-tigers-vs-yankees-alds-game-5">Game 5 on Thursday night</a>, there was a bit of a delay. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> manager Joe Girardi asked home plate umpire Ted Barrett to ask Benoit to <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2011/10/07/2011-10-07_bandaid_pains_yanks.html?r=sports">remove a large Band-Aid from his left cheek</a> since it was apparently distracting. Barrett complied with the request and told Benoit, who looked shocked over what was transpiring, to remove the Band-Aid. He did, although he didn't look happy to be having the Band-Aid ripped off his face right before he was about to pitch in a crucial point in the game. (Video of this is after the jump.)</p>
<p><iframe src="http://videos.sportsgrid.com/embed/player/?r=9463778233621270&content=FDNG520WMH6N61GH&widget_type_cid=svp" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" width="630" frameborder="0" height="450"></iframe></p>
<p>(Via <a href="http://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/benoit-band-aid-video/">SportsGrid</a>)</p>
<p>My biggest fear was the delay would throw Benoit off his game, and considering he gave up singles to the first two batters he faced and later walked in a run with the bases loaded, it seemed like that was happening. Benoit shook it off, however, and he got out of the jam and pitched another inning before giving way to <span>Jose Valverde</span>.</p>
<p>Since the Tigers won the game, this is now just a comedic footnote in an otherwise stressful night. I'm sure Benoit still doesn't find it all that funny, but it's hard not to laugh at the incident considering the Twitter account <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/BenoitsBandAid">@BenoitsBandAid</a> popped up before Game 5 even ended. I mean, how can you not laugh at tweets like this?</p>
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<p><span class="metadata"><span class="author"><a href="http://twitter.com/BenoitsBandAid"><img src="http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1576286785/bandaid_normal.jpg"></a><b><a href="http://twitter.com/BenoitsBandAid">@BenoitsBandAid</a></b><br>Band Aid</span></span> What a crazy night. Ya'll see me on SporsCenter? Still soaked in champagne. Can't wait for <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=ALCS" title="#ALCS search Twitter">#ALCS</a>. When you speak of me use <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=JustBeGauze" title="#JustBeGauze search Twitter">#JustBeGauze</a><br><span class="embedly_timestamp"><a title="Fri Oct 07 13:23:23 +0000 2011" href="http://twitter.com/BenoitsBandAid/status/122300991264653312">Oct 07</a> via web</span><span class="tweet-actions"><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=122300991264653312" class="favorite-action" title="Favorite"><span><i></i><b>Favorite</b></span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=122300991264653312" class="retweet-action" title="Retweet"><span><i></i><b>Retweet</b></span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=122300991264653312" class="reply-action" title="Reply"><span><i></i><b>Reply</b></span></a></span></p>
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https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/7/2475272/joaquin-benoit-band-aid-tigers-yankees-game-5Sean Yuille2011-10-07T10:13:39-04:002011-10-07T10:13:39-04:00Mike Ilitch On Tigers Winning Game 5: 'One Of The Greatest Days Of My Life'
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a> and Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch has had the fortune of witnessing some great moments in sports. His Red Wings won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998, and they added two more titles in 2002 and 2008. In 2006, his Tigers went to the World Series after <span>Magglio Ordonez</span> hit a walk-off home run in Game 4 of the ALCS.</p>
<p>This year, the Tigers are hoping to return to the World Series, and the first step was beating the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> in the ALDS. They accomplished step one on Thursday night with a <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/7/2474597/tigers-vs-yankees-score-alds-game-5-mlb-playoffs-2011/in/2236027">3-2 victory in Game 5</a>, and after the game Ilitch described the moment not just as one of the greatest sports days of his life, but rather one of the greatest days in general of his life. <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/DKnobler/status/122197820743757824">From Danny Knobler</a>:</p>
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<p>Tiger owner Mike Ilitch told GM Dombrowski: "This is one of the greatest days of my life." Beating NYY in the Bronx still means something.</p>
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<p>Considering how poorly the Tigers played in Game 4 and how everybody seemed to be favoring the Yankees to win at home, it was very satisfying for the Tigers and their fans to go into Yankee Stadium and win in a sudden death game. For Ilitch, it was extremely satisfying, as evidenced by his above comment.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/7/2475094/detroit-tigers-new-york-yankees-game-5-mike-ilitchSean Yuille2011-10-07T01:20:10-04:002011-10-07T01:20:10-04:00VIDEO: Radio Call Of Final Out From Tigers' 3-2 Win Over Yankees
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<p>Few things in sports are better than hearing Dan Dickerson scream in excitement at the end of a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a> game. Whether he's yelling because of a <span>Justin Verlander</span> no-hitter, a walk-off home run or a series-clinching victory, it always gives me chills. The latter of the three especially gave me chills on Thursday night when <span>Jose Valverde</span> recorded the final out and <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/5/2471986/mlb-playoffs-2011-tigers-vs-yankees-alds-game-5">eliminated the New York Yankees from the MLB playoffs</a>.</p>
<p>In case you missed it, you can check out a video of the call after the jump.</p>
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https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/7/2474691/detroit-tigers-new-york-yankees-game-5-alds-video-mlb-playoffs-2011Sean Yuille2011-10-07T00:40:09-04:002011-10-07T00:40:09-04:00ANIMATED: Dance Papa Grande, Dance!
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<p>I don't think a <a href="http://gif.mocksession.com/2011/10/valverde-celebrate/">Jose Valverde celebration</a> has ever looked so good (this was after he struck out <span>Alex Rodriguez</span> to finish off the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> in <a href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/5/2471986/mlb-playoffs-2011-tigers-vs-yankees-alds-game-5">Game 5 of their series</a>):</p>↵<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/827772/VALVERDE-CELEBRATE.gif"><img alt="Valverde-celebrate_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/827772/VALVERDE-CELEBRATE.gif" width="298" height="169"></a></p>↵<p>Via <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/bubbaprog/">@bubbaprog</a></p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/7/2474653/jose-valverde-celebration-tigers-yankees-mlb-playoffs-2011Sean Yuille2011-10-07T00:22:30-04:002011-10-07T00:22:30-04:00Tigers Vs. Yankees Score: Detroit Headed To ALCS After 3-2 Victory In Game 5
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a> are headed to the ALCS after downing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> on Thursday night by a score of 3-2. Game 5 of the series probably took a few years off the lives of Tigers fans, but it was worth it to see <span>Jose Valverde</span> celebrate after completing a three-out save to seal Detroit's 3-2 victory.</p>
<p>Perhaps as surprising as a relatively stress-free inning with Valverde on the mound was how this game started. <span>Don Kelly</span> and <span>Delmon Young</span> hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning to put Detroit on top 2-0 early, and it turned out that the first inning accounted for half of starter <span>Ivan Nova's</span> appearance in Game 5. He was pulled after the second inning by Joe Girardi because of forearm tightness in what was the first of many pitching changes made by the Yankees during this game.</p>
<p>The Tigers didn't make their first pitching change until the sixth inning, when <span>Max Scherzer</span> took over for <span>Doug Fister</span>. Fister pitched very well for the Tigers, going five innings and allowing only one run and five hits. The one run came on a solo home run by <span>Robinson Cano</span> in the fifth inning. An inning earlier, the Yankees had the bases loaded, but Fister worked out of the jam with no runs allowed.</p>
<p>Before Cano's home run in the bottom of the fifth, <span>Victor Martinez</span> provided some insurance for the Tigers in the top of the fifth. <span>CC Sabathia</span> entered the game to take over for <span>Boone Logan</span>, who earlier replaced <span>Phil Hughes</span>. Sabathia gave up a lead-off double to <span>Austin Jackson</span>, and later in the inning with two outs, Martinez singled to score him. The Yankees intentionally walked <span>Miguel Cabrera</span>, and Martinez made them pay.</p>
<p>Scherzer cruised through the sixth inning for the Tigers, but after allowing an infield single to <span>Derek Jeter</span> in the seventh, things got extremely sketchy. <span>Joaquin Benoit</span> came into the game and allowed back-to-back singles to <span>Curtis Granderson</span> and Robinson Cano. Cano reached on an infield single, and he loaded the bases for <span>Alex Rodriguez</span>, who struck out. <span>Mark Teixeira</span> drew a walk to score a run, but Benoit kept the lead intact by striking out <span>Nick Swisher</span>.</p>
<p>Benoit stayed out for the eighth inning and retired the first two batters he faced before allowing a <span>Brett Gardner</span> single. Jeter came up to bat and hit a long fly ball to right field, but it fell short of the wall by a few feet and Kelly was there to make the catch.</p>
<p>In the ninth inning, it was Papa Grande time. Jose Valverde came into the game and retired the Yankees in order. Granderson flew out to <span>Ryan Raburn</span> in left field, and Cano lined out to center. The Yankees' last hope was Rodriguez, and he was once again struck out, giving the Tigers the final out they needed to preserve a 3-2 victory.</p>
<p>The Tigers are now off to Texas to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> in the ALCS. Just like in 2006, an AL West team awaits the Tigers after they defeated the Yankees in the ALDS. Hopefully history will once again repeat itself as the Tigers look to return to the World Series.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/7/2474597/tigers-vs-yankees-score-alds-game-5-mlb-playoffs-2011Sean Yuille2011-10-06T22:51:25-04:002011-10-06T22:51:25-04:00Tigers Vs. Yankees: Delmon Young Leaves Game 5 With Mild Left Oblique Strain
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<p>The start of the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 5 of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a>-<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> series was delayed. The Tigers were without a left fielder until <span>Ryan Raburn</span> left the dugout and headed out onto the field to replace <span>Delmon Young</span>.</p>
<p>Young was on the field during the middle part of the inning, but he suddenly ran off with an injury before the bottom of the seventh began. Here's the <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/OFFICIAL_TIGERS/status/122140075126558720">official update</a> on the injury from the Tigers:</p>
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<p>Delmon Young left tonight's game with a mild left oblique strain. Will be further evaluated tomorrow.</p>
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<p>Young hit three home runs during this series, which is a Tigers record for a single postseason series. He has been great for the Tigers since coming over in a trade with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a>, and if the Tigers advance to the ALCS, they will certainly hope to have him in the lineup.</p>
<p>If the Tigers win, expect to hear more about this injury on Friday.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/10/6/2474457/tigers-vs-yankees-delmon-young-injurySean Yuille