Yankees vs. Tigers, 2012 ALCS Game 3: Coke, Young unlikely heroes for Detroit

With a 2-1 win in Game 3 of the ALCS on Tuesday, the Detroit Tigers opened up a 3-0 lead over the Yankees and are one win away from their first World Series appearance since 2006.

Tigers ace Justin Verlander had another dominating playoff appearance in Game 3, giving up just one run and three hits in 8⅓ innings but it was Phil Coke who got the final two outs in the game and his second save of the playoffs to preserve the Tigers' victory.

Delmon Young also homered for the second time in the series in Game 3 and has four hits and five runs batted in through three games in the ALCS to inch the Tigers closer to the World Series.

Kurt Mensching of Bless You Boys credits Coke and Young for being the unsung heroes for the Tigers during this playoff run:

But in the postseason for Detroit, few have been better. Young opened the scoring Tuesday with a home run -- his seventh postseason home run with the Tigers and his second HR of this ALCS. That's more postseason home runs than any player in Tigers history has ever had .

Coke has pitched 5⅓ scoreless innings this post-season and has essentially become the Tigers' closer against the Yankees after Jose Valverde gave up four earned runs to the Yankees in Game 1 of the ALCS.