The <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/topic/subjects/mlb">New York Yankees</a> had a night to forget after slipping to a 12-inning to the <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/topic/subjects/mlb">Detroit Tigers</a> - and losing captain Derek Jeter to a fractured ankle. The opening game of the <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/topic/subjects/mlb">American League Championship Series</a> got off to the worse possible start as the Tigers ran out 6-4 winners. Raul Ibanez' postseason heroics continued when he hit the second of two two-run homers - Ichiro Suzuki crushed the first - as the Yankees dragged the game back a 4-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. But this time it was not enough to earn the win for the Yankees as the Tigers built a two-run lead in the 12th through an RBI double from Delmon Young and a single from Andy Dirk. Their problems were compounded when Jeter tumbled as he reached down in an attempt to catch Jhonny Peralta's grounder during the 12th inning. "Watching Jete go down was, and still is, a very difficult moment for us as a team and what he means to us, a great player and the great leader that he is," said Ibanez afterwards. While Tigers closer Jose Valverde could not protect a four-run lead in the ninth, Drew Smyly, making his post-season debut, pitched his second scoreless inning in the 12th to register the win. Jeter is expected to miss the next three months, ruling him out of the rest of the season. sports@thenational.ae Follow us
