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Tigers, Yankees shift series to "Motor City" for Game Three

Oct 6, 2006 - 1:03 PM NY Yankees at Detroit 8:09 pm EDT American League Division Series Series tied, 1-1

DETROIT (Ticker) - Kenny Rogers and Randy Johnson have compiled impressive numbers in their long and mostly successful careers. However, they still feel they have something to prove this week.

The 41-year-old Rogers takes the mound for the Detroit Tigers on Friday as they battle the 43-year-old Johnson and the New York Yankees in Game Three of the American League Division Series.

Following Wednesday's rainout, the Tigers snapped a six-game losing streak dating to the final week of the regular season when they evened the series with Thursday's 4-3 triumph over New York.

Curtis Granderson drove in a pair of runs, including a go-ahead RBI triple in the seventh inning, and Marcus Thames collected three hits for Detroit.

"To be able to come in here and tie the series up and go home with a chance to do something special, we're excited about that," said Tigers left fielder Craig Monroe, who doubled and scored a run.

Looking to continue the momentum at home, Detroit turns to Rogers (17-8, 3.84 ERA), who never has won a playoff game. He is 0-3 with a career 8.85 ERA in postseason, with all three losses coming in in 1999 with the New York Mets.

Rogers has been on a roll since the All-Star break. The lefthander went 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA in August and was 3-1 with 2.79 ERA in September. He will be facing the Yankees for the first time this season.

"Their lineup is just going to be what the PlayStation 3 comes out with," Rogers said. "That's the lineup that's going to be there. ... It will rival any lineup that's ever been out there. I know they are great. I know they have fantastic players."

The Yankees have been keeping their fingers crossed in the last several days that Johnson (17-11, 5.00) would be able to take the ball after suffering a herniated disk in his back.

The "Big Unit" has not pitched in 12 days and tries to improve on his 2-7 mark and 4.59 career ERA in Division Series. He won both decisions against the Tigers this year.

Rogers and Johnson have recorded 487 victories and nearly 6,400 strikeouts in a combined 37 major league seasons.

After Johnny Damon's three-run homer gave the Yankees a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning Thursday, they could not do any additional damage against Detroit's bullpen. New York went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the contest and managed just one hit in the final 3 2/3 frames.

"Well, we had opportunities," New York manager Joe Torre said. "We had men on, I think, in the first four innings, three or four innings we had the leadoff hitter on and we just couldn't do anything. Our game is swinging the bats and hitting the ball."

The teams meet again here for Game Four on Saturday.