A-Rod out of N.Y. lineup again

DETROIT, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Alex Rodriguez was on the bench again Thursday when the New York Yankees and the Tigers resumed their playoff series with Game 4 in Detroit.

Detroit got two home runs from Jonny Peralta and one apiece from Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera in an 8-1 win that gave them a sweep of the series and a trip to the World Series, where they will play the winner of the National League Championship Series between San Francisco and St. Louis.

Rodriguez, who was not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, has been in a severe slump during the post-season -- having gone 3-for-23 overall and 1-for-7 in the first two games of the ALCS at in New York.

Prior to Thursday's game, he was 0-for 18 with 12 strikeouts against right-handed pitching.

"There's been some real struggles in our lineup and we had to do something," said Yankees Manager Joe Girardi.

Eric Chavez started at third for New York Thursday and struck out twice in two at-bats.

Rodriguez came into the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning and finished 0-or-2.