Tigers beat Yankees to advance in Major League Baseball playoffs

Detroit Tigers celebrate after winning Game 5 of American League division series 3-2 over the New York Yankees on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, in New York. They will face the Texas Rangers for the American League Championship Series (ALCS). AP

NEW YORK – Don Kelly and Delmon Young homered in the first inning and Detroit’s pitchers made the lead stand up Thursday as the Tigers edged the New York Yankees 3-2 to advance in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

The Tigers won the best-of-five American League first-round series three games to two to advance to the American League championship series against the Texas Rangers.

Detroit closing pitcher Jose Valverde shut down the Yankees in the ninth inning as Tigers eliminated the Yankees in the first round for the second time in six seasons.

Detroit starting pitcher Doug Fister stranded six Yankees base runners in the second through fourth innings before surrendering Robinson Cano’s solo home run in the fifth.

The tension mounted as the Yankees edged closer in the seventh inning when Tigers relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit walked Mark Teixeira with the bases loaded to let the Yankees close to 3-2.

Benoit then struck out Nick Swisher with a fastball to preserve the lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, New York’s Brett Gardner singled. Yankees star Derek Jeter then lofted a ball that Kelly caught just at the right-field wall for an out to end the inning.

Valverde pitched the ninth for his second save of the series.

After Valverde struck out Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez to end the contest, he crouched on the mound and clenched his fists as his teammates came out to celebrate.

“They made some huge pitches when they had to,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “Our guys played hard… obviously it’s a terrible day for us, but we got beat.”

Detroit, who are seeking their first World Series title since 1984, send ace pitcher Justin Verlander to the mound for game one of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series at Texas on Saturday against the Rangers’ C.J. Wilson.

The winner of the series will play the National League champions in the World Series.

The Rangers, trying to get back to the World Series after falling to San Francisco last year in Major League Baseball’s title showcase, defeated the Tampa Bay Rays three games to one in their American League first-round series.