Yesterday: Yankees 9, Tigers 3

HERO

When Game 1 resumed last night with both CC Sabathia and Justin Verlander on the bench, no one was sure how Ivan Nova would hold up. Just fine, as it turned out. The 24-year-old tossed 61/3 innings gave up two runs and saved the bullpen.

ZERO

Alex Avila got a terrible jump after a bad read on Jhonny Peralta’s fifth-inning single to center then slid right into Russell Martin’s tag at home, keeping the game tied. The Tigers had appeared to have Nova on the ropes at that point, but the momentum shifted back to the Yankees.

COMPLETE YANKEES COVERAGE

BOX SCORE

PHOTOS: ALDS GAME 1: YANKEES 9, TIGERS 3

KEY MOMENT

Robinson Cano’s fifth-inning RBI double bounced directly off the top of the left field wall and the fans in the area avoided touching it. It gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead and they never looked back, thanks in part to Cano following it up with a grand slam in the sixth.