Cleworthy:Don't forget that in the post season you aren't going to score as many runs
Very true. You face the best the other team has and you're playing at an amped up level. Verlander was very beatable last night as the Yankees' patience forced him into hitters' counts but they couldn't capitalize on it. (Does anybody else think that dumbass pitch tracker is worthless?)
Sanchez and Scherzer were different stories, though. IMO, Scherzer set the tone with his outstanding performance in game 1 (the ninth inning was on Valverde eating his karma for his histrionics during the year-a little humble pie, if you will) and Sanchez continued it with his sterling effort. Those 2 guys put the Yankees in a pressing situation and that is no way to approach JV. Hughes going down didn't help (he beat JV earlier in the year 3-1.)
At this point the only thing Yankee fans have to lean on is CC and Andy if CC is CC tonight. It's not beyond the realm of possibility for this series to return to Yankee Stadium for 6 and 7 but I wouldn't hold my breath. Detroit will be insane with every pitch tonight and as much as I hate for the Yankees to lose this way, you have to believe in the good this will do for a city that really needs something good to happen for them. The WS is just the ticket.
I still hope the Yankees pull a Boston on the Tigers. :-)