The Detroit Tigers have bounced back to even their first round Major League Baseball playoff series with the New York Yankees. After rain washed out Game-Two of the American League game late Wednesday, Detroit edged New York Thursday, 4-3.
Carlos Guillen smacked a home run and Curtis Granderson drove in a pair of runs as Detroit overcame a two-run deficit. Both teams have one win as the best-of-five series moves to Detroit for Game-Three Friday.
In the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals extended their lead over the San Diego Padres with a 2-0 win. Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds drove in runs off San Diego starting pitcher David Wells in the fourth inning. St. Louis pitcher Jeff Weaver held off the Padres in five scoreless innings.
The Cardinals take their 2-0 series advantage home to St. Louis where Game-Three will be played Saturday. If needed, the Cardinals will also host Game-Four Sunday.
The New York Mets beat the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-1, in the other National League game. Veteran Mets pitcher Tom Glavine gave up just four hits in six shutout innings. The Mets and Dodgers head to Los Angeles for Game-Three Saturday with New York in control of the series, two games to none.
The Oakland Athletics and Minnesota Twins resume their American League series Friday in Oakland, California. The Athletics have a commanding lead by winning the first two games in Minneapolis. Oakland needs just one more win to clinch the best-of-five series.
All of the four first-round playoffs are best-of-five series. Winners of the two American League series will then play each other on a best-of-seven basis, with the winner going on to the World Series. The National League follows the same pattern.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.