DETROIT, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The Detroit Tigers moved to a win away from the World Series Tuesday by beating the New York Yankees 2-1 behind a solid pitching performance by Jason Verlander.
The Tigers' ace (1-0) held the Yankees to one run on three hits and struck out three in 8 1/3 innings to give Detroit a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven AL Championship Series and a chance for a sweep on Wednesday.
The Yankees will send ace CC Sabathia to the mound against Max Scherzer.
The only run allowed by Verlander Tuesday was a home run in the ninth by Eduardo Nunez. Ichiro Suzuki had two singles.
Phil Coke came to close out the game and earned a save by striking out New York's clutch-hitting Raul Ibanez with two men on base to end the game.
Miguel Cabrera had an RBI double for the Tigers and Delmon Young hit a solo home run in the fourth inning off Phil Hughes (0-1).
Hughes left the game after three innings due to back stiffness. New York used five pitchers the rest of the way.