Tigers use defense to beat the Yankees

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers used three early homers and three late defensive gems to beat the New York Yankees, 5-4, and can win their first series since mid-July with a victory in the series finale tonight.

“We’ve had some bad moments this year, but the one thing about this team is that they always give it everything they have,” Tigers Manager Jim Leyland said. “That’s the thing that makes a manager proud.”

The Tigers moved to within four games of the Seattle Mariners in the wild-card race and remained 2 1/2 behind Cleveland in the AL Central.

After third baseman Brandon Inge made a spectacular play in the eighth, first baseman Carlos Guillen bailed out Tigers closer Todd Jones with two tough plays in the ninth. Hideki Matsui started the inning with a grounder between first and second, but Guillen ranged far to his right to get the ball, then threw across his body to Jones covering first. Then, after Jason Giambi’s single, Guillen snared Robinson Cano’s hard-hit grounder and started a game-ending 3-6-3 double play.