Tonight, the Yankees had plenty of opportunities to win. They didn't capitalize on them and are now watching the remainder of the 2011 MLB Playoffs on TV. 

For the second consecutive year, Alex Rodriguez struck out looking to end the season. The Detroit Tigers are headed to the American League Championship Series to take on the Texas Rangers. Congratulations to Detroit. They outplayed New York tonight and deserve to be moving on. 

Now, onto the grilling.

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A.J. Burnett turned in a quality outing in his most important start as a Yankee and was backed by ten runs as the Yankees forced a decisive Game 5, defeating the Tigers 10-1 on Tuesday night. 

Burnett struggled in the first inning, loading the bases via three walks. With two outs, Don Kelly lined out to Curtis Granderson, who got a poor read on the ball before making a fantastic recovery to make the catch, ending the inning and the bases loaded threat in the process. Following the first, Burnett shut the Tigers down, with his only mistake a 3-1 fastball that Victor Martinez launched into the right field seats. 

Burnett's final line was 5 2/3 innings, four hits, four walks, three strikeouts, and one run. It's not a pretty line, but it looks worse than he actually pitched. Burnett was everything the Yankees needed.

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Detroit took the strategy I wanted the Yanks to take: to make the opposing pitcher work.

Overall though, I'd have to admit that Justin Verlander just pitched better than CC Sabathia. Detroit only had to get one inning from its bullpen while New York needed 2.2.

I think we all knew it was a mistake to let CC start the sixth. He was clearly out of gas in the fifth, and the bullpen was extremely rested. Why not go with the relievers there?

TBS' commentators seemed markedly more excited for the Tigers (and if you've been a member of this site for awhile, you know I never say that).

Oh, Sori. What a let down you've been all year. The home run to Delmon Young in the seventh was probably the icing on that cake. If the Yanks lose the series, that's what you'll be remembered for this offseason.

The middle of the lineup didn't help much either: Cano, A-Rod, Tex and Swisher combined to go 0-14 with two walks.

Both Curtis Granderson and Russell Martin flew out to the warning track in rightfield. Each probably would've cleared the wall in the Bronx. Just too bad how that worked out.

Now the season rests on the shoulders of A.J. Burnett. Oh... my... god...

Play of the Game: One of those rare occasions when the losing team got the biggest hit - GGBG's two-out, two-run double in the seventh that tied the game at four (+29%).

Mood Music - Du Hast by Rammstein

In a game full of strangeness and oddity, the Detroit Tigers took game two of the ALDS from the New York Yankees, moving the series to Detroit in a 1-1 tie. Falling behind early, the Yankees window for a comeback became narrower and narrower, and when they did make it interesting in the ninth inning, it wasn't quite enough.

The Tigers held on to win 5-3, with a huge Game Three matchup between Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia looming. Game notes after the jump:

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Who's the hero of this game?

Was it Gritty Gutty Brett Gardner, whose 6th inning 2-RBI single gave the Yankees breathing room?

Was it Robbie Cano, whose 5th inning hit broke the 1-1 tie left over from last night, and whose grand slam blew the game wide open?

I pick Ivan Nova, who pitched the game of his life. 6.1 innings, 8 baserunners, 5 strikeouts.

Before the season started, I didn't think Nova could cut it as a major league starter. I didn't think he was good enough to be a Yankee. I didn't think he had enough control, I didn't think he had enough stuff, I didn't think he was good enough.

I was wrong.

I'm sorry, Ivan Nova, that I was so wrong about you. I'm sorry I worried that you could outpitch Doug Fister, whose name still makes me laugh.

I don't buy into the "True Yankee" nonsense, but I do believe in earning your pinstripes. They're all yours. You earned them.

Comment of the Game: a text from my brother as Ayala enters the game: "I can't take Ayala right now."