ALCS Game 2: Anibal Sanchez and Tigers take 2-0 series lead after four-hit shutout of Yankees

Score and situation: The Detroit Tigers took advantage of a flagging New York Yankees offense and a late blown call to record a 3-0 win in Game 2 of the ALCS on Sunday. The victory gives them a two games to none lead in the series as it shifts to Detroit for the middle three games.

Leading lads: Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez just the way the Tigers wanted him to when they acquired him in a midseason trade from Miami. The righthander threw seven scoreless innings, striking out seven while allowing three hits and three walks to the Yankees lineup. New York starter Hiroki Kuroda pitched even better by carrying a perfect game into the sixth inning, but gave up three runs (only  one of which was truly earned) and was stuck with the hard-luck loss after striking out a career-high 11 batters through 7 2/3 innings. Head hangers:  Robinson Cano is your new poster child for the inefficiency of the Yankees offense, which managed only four hits on the night. Cano went 0 for 4 to extend his hitless streak to 0 for 26, the longest drought in postseason history. No one in the New York lineup, however, was exempt from blame as the Yankees offense continued to struggle.

Second base umpire Jeff Nelson belongs in this spot too after blowing a call at second base. Though Cano's tag looked pretty evident for an out, Nelson ruled that Omar Infante was safe after trying to return to the bag and the inning was allowed to continue (though not before Joe Girardi was thrown out of the game for arguing the call). The Tigers used the opportunity to tack on two insurance runs that they wouldn't end up needing.

Key play: Quintin Berry led off the top of the seventh with a ground-rule double. He'd later score the first run of the game on a fielder's choice by Delmon Young.

What's next: The series shifts to Detroit's Comerica Park for Tuesday's Game 3 at 8:07 p.m. ET. Justin Verlander gets the start for Detroint and can put the Tigers on the brink of the World Series with a win. Phil Hughes is scheduled to start for the Yankees with Girardi still insisting that he won't move up Game 4 starter CC Sabathia to pitch on short rest.

Make sure all your bases are covered this postseason ...
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