Delmon Young back in lineup for Tigers in Game 2
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Delmon Young was activated by the Detroit Tigers on Monday, and the American League division series hero will be in left field and batting third in Game 2 of the AL championship series against the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington.
Young, a former Camarillo High School standout, hit three home runs in the division series against the New York Yankees, but he suffered a rib-cage strain in Game 5 and was left off the roster for the ALCS.
But when right fielder Magglio Ordonez suffered a season-ending broken right ankle in Game 1 Saturday night, a 3-2 Rangers win, the Tigers, in a move that hints of desperation, turned to Young on Monday.
‘He did not swing [Sunday], but he was tested by the doctors and did all kinds of other workouts and exercises,’ Tigers Manager Jim Leyland said. ‘He’s fine. He’s swinging good today. So he will play.’
Texas left-hander Derek Holland will oppose Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer in Game 2, which was scheduled for Sunday night but postponed to 1 p.m. PDT Monday because of rain some four hours before first pitch.
Actually, it poured for much of the day Sunday, but right after the game was called off by Major League Baseball officials, who consulted the National Weather Service and the local meteorologist who works with the Rangers, the rain stopped. Sunday night, the area around the stadium received only an occasional drizzle. ‘This is kind of a mystery,’ Leyland said. ‘If somebody buys an umbrella down here, they cancel school, evidently. I don’t know.’
Some felt the rainout will help the Rangers because reliever Alexi Ogando, who threw two hitless innings in Game 1, will now be available for Game 2. Rangers Manager Ron Washington said if Game 2 had been played Sunday, Ogando would not have been available.
Leyland begged to differ.
‘It’s just as much an advantage for us,’ he said. ‘Scherzer got another day’s rest. Plus, now we’re going to play four straight days. I think this works in our favor. I’m not saying it’s a big advantage to us, but I don’t see where it’s a big advantage to the Rangers like everybody else says.’
The Tigers lineup: CF Austin Jackson, 2B Ramon Santiago, LF Delmon Young, 1B Miguel Cabrera, DH Victor Martinez, RF Ryan Raburn, SS Jhonny Peralta, C Alex Avila, 3B Brandon Inge, P Max Scherzer.
The Rangers lineup: 2B Ian Kinsler, SS Elvis Andrus, CF Josh Hamilton, DH Michael Young, 3B Adrian Beltre, C Mike Napoli, RF Nelson Cruz, LF David Murphy, 1B Mitch Moreland, P Derek Holland.
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