DETROIT, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Delmon Young bashed a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning Monday and Detroit pushed the New York Yankees to the brink of playoff elimination with a 5-4 win.
Tigers starter Justin Verlander (1-0) surrendered a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh when the Yankees put two runners on base with two outs and Brett Gardner lined a double to score them both.
But Young's one-out, opposite-field shot over the right field fence off Rafael Soriano (0-1) in the bottom of the frame quickly broke the deadlock and handed the Tigers a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five American League Divisional Series.
Verlander gutted out eight innings to gain the win, allowing four runs on six hits while walking three and striking out 11.
New York's CC Sabathia, meanwhile, turned in his shortest start of the season, lasting only 5 1/3 frames. He was wild, walking six, while allowing four runs on seven hits.
The Yankees coaxed a pair of walks off Tigers closer Jose Valverde in the ninth, but Derek Jeter struck out to end the game and New York will try to avoid elimination in Tuesday's Game 4.
