Yankees lose both game, Derek Jeter

NEW YORK - Reuters

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter screams as he injures himself fielding a ball hit by Detroit Tigers’ Jhonny Peralta during the 12th inning. Reuters photo

New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter fractured his ankle and was ruled out of the rest of the Major League Baseball playoffs after a freak accident on Saturday.

Jeter was carried off Yankee Stadium in agony when he slipped and fell while fielding a ball in his team’s American League Championship opener against the Detroit Tigers.

The Yankees lost the game 6-4 to trail 1-0 in the best-of-seven series but the result was overshadowed by the injury to one of the game’s most accomplished and respected players.

“His ankle’s fractured, he’s out,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters.

“They (doctors) talked about a three-month recovery period. It won’t jeopardize his career but he will not be playing anymore for us this year.”

The 38-year-old Jeter, a five-time World Series winner with the Yankees, hurt the same ankle last week but Girardi said the injuries were not related.

The massive crowd at Yankee Stadium, which had been roaring with excitement when the Bombers came from 4-0 down to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, instantly knew something was wrong when Jeter dived to retrieve a ground ball at shortstop.

He grimaced as his ankle gave way and was unable to pick himself up off the dirt. He was X-rayed immediately at the ground and Girardi said the scans showed a crack in
one of the bones.

Disappointment

“It’s pretty emotional,” said Girardi. “There is disappointment we didn’t win the game and there is disappointment our captain and our leader went down for the rest of the year.”

Jeter is almost without peer in modern day baseball and an icon in American sport where he is heavily marketed because of his good guy image.

Such is his standing in the game, even the opposition were distraught by the sight of him being
carried off in pain.

“When you think of postseason, you think of Derek Jeter,” Detroit manager Jim Leyland told reporters. “I am the opposing manager, but fortunately over the years I think there has been a tremendous mutual respect.

“I am very sorry about it, and very sorry to hear about it.”