MLB

Tigers to ‘discuss’ closer’s role after Valverde bombs again

After giving one of the worst relief efforts in years in Game 4 of the ALDS, Tigers closer Jose Valverde came in last night of Game 1 of the ALCS against the Yankees and gave one of the worst relief efforts ever.

“Thank God my team won,” Valverde said after blowing a 4-0 lead in the ninth but having the Tigers bail him out in the 12th for a 6-4 victory.

Asked to protect that 4-0 lead, Valverde was beyond miserable for the Tigers as he was torched for two-run home runs by both Ichiro Suzuki (“a little sinker”) and Raul Ibanez (“a splitter”). In the ALDS Game 4, Valverde surrendered three ninth inning runs and turned a 3-1 lead into a 4-3 defeat. It was suggested he might need a break from closing.

“I don’t think so. I’ve been doing my job for a long time and I think I can do it,” said Valverde, who was perfect in 51 saves situations in the regular season and playoffs last year, but who has struggled all year, particularly in non-save scenarios like the one he faced last night.

“I thank everybody possible (for the win) tonight. I’ve been a bust two times now, one time in Oakland and then here. There’s nothing you can do it’s in the past, it’s over.”

Manager Jim Leyland stayed with the struggling Valverde again last night. As it turned out, he stayed at least one batter too long. After Valverde surrendered yet another clutch homer by Ibanez, Leyland finally called on Octavio Dotel.

“I had Dotel up because there were things I really didn’t like,” Leyland said who noted of the closer role, “we are going to discuss this as a staff…We haven’t really made any decisions. We really want to put our heads together and discuss this.

“He has been the closer and he had a rough outing in Oakland and obviously a rough outing tonight. But Ibanez has had pretty good at bats off Dotel.”

Couldn’t be any better than the one he had off Valverde. His shot went a few rows deep in right as Avisail Garcia leaped futilely at the wall.

“When he hit it, I thought, ‘Home run.’ But then I thought I had a chance at the wall,” Garcia said.

No chance. Finally, Dotel came on and worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Everybody not named Valverde worked scoreless innings for the Tigers.

“It’s tough but you can’t have that in your mind you have to concentrate,” Dotel said of coming into a potentially devastated situation. “You just come back.”

And the Tigers did.

Valverde yielded a single to No. 9 hitter Russell Martin, struck out Derek Jeter and then watched Ichiro launch his shot to right. Valverde fanned Robinson Cano, walked Mark Teixeira and then was abused by Ibanez.