The Yankees have had some historic bad luck with 3-0 ALCS leads, but it seems being on the other side of the coin offers little respite. The Tigers completed their sweep of the Bombers 8-1 last night in Detroit. Miguel Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta both hit two-run home runs in the fourth inning as the Tigers took command early. Peralta and Austin Jackson added solo homers later in the rout. Yankees starter CC Sabathia was hit hard by the Tigers, giving up two home runs and six runs in three and two-thirds innings of work.
Though it’s the end of the line for the Yankees, news from the Bombers is far from over. 38-year-old captain and shortstop Derek Jeter is scheduled for ankle surgery on Saturday and might not be ready until late in spring training and speculation continues after Alex Rodriguez, the $275 million third basemen was held out of the lineup for the third time this postseason last night.
Meanwhile the Tigers await their World Series fate as the St. Louis Cardinals are one victory away from returning to the World Series with a chance at winning back-to-back titles. The Cardinals routed San Francisco 8-3 to take a 3-1 lead in the NL Championship Series. Adam Wainwright hurled seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits, striking out five.
In the NFL last night, Alex Smith threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Delanie Walker late in the third quarter and San Francisco held off the Seattle Seahawks 13-6 as the 49ers took over sole possession of first place in the NFC West. It’s a weekend of rivalries around the NFL, the Giants host the Redskins at 1 O’clock this Sunday, Jets and Patriots go head to head for the 4:25 game. Buffalo will take on the Titans as well.
The NHL and the players' association agree on one thing: Thursday was a bad day at the negotiating table. No new talks have been scheduled, and the possibility of a full hockey regular season is quickly shrinking.
Dutch bank Rabobank is ending its sponsorship of professional cycling, saying "the trust in the cycling world has gone" following publication of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's explosive report on Lance Armstrong. The bank said Friday that it will halt 17 years of sponsoring men's and women's professional teams at the end of 2012.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press