The Yankees bats have quieted when they have needed them most in this series. Aside from the outburst in the ninth inning of last night's game, the Yankees have not been able to score in any other inning against a pedestrian Tigers pitching staff. Down 0-2 in the series, they now have to face Justin Verlander in game three in Detroit. Getting at least a split at home was crucial for the Yankees because they knew Verlander was waiting for them in the third game of the series. Tonight, the Yankee offense was non-existent after getting shut out by Anibal Sanchez and the rest of the Tigers bullpen. Kuroda was fantastic tonight and should have gone eight innings to allow one run. Instead, a blown call at second base cost the Yankees an additional four pitchers and an additional two runs to trail by. Raul Ibanez cannot hit 1-9 in the Yankee lineup and another guy has to step up now that Jeter is out for the remainder of the postseason. Alex Rodriguez continues to look helpless at the plate and Cano, who has set an MLB postseason record with consecutive hitless at-bats. Cano has been complaining to the umpires a lot in the postseason, but he is the only person to blame for his slump, which is probably the worst of his career. After ending the season so hot, how is it possible to get so cold in a matter of single digit games?
The Yankees have a tall mountain to climb if they want to get back into this series and it will start by facing Justin Verlander on Tuesday night in Detroit where he will square off against Phil Hughes, who actually beat Verlander in Detroit earlier in the season. If Verlander beats them, which is a probable outcome based on the Yankees offensive slump, they will essentially be out of the World Series hunt in a painful way. Let's see if they are able to muster something up against Verlander and suddenly come out of their offensive dip.
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