However, Granderson made a strong throw to Jeter, who relayed to Martin at home to tag out Alex Avila trying to score the go-ahead run.

Later, Canó knocked in his sixth RBI on an eighth-inning double to score Jeter, tying a Yankees postseason record for RBIs in a game by a single player.

The Yankees turned to their closer, all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera, in a non-save situation, who struck out Wilson Betemit to end the game.

The Yankees got on the board in the eighth on Curtis Granderson's leadoff home run off of Joaquín Benoit, but in the ninth, Luis Ayala hit Brandon Inge with a pitch.

In the bottom of the inning, Nick Swisher hit a leadoff home run off José Valverde, who then allowed a triple to Jorge Posada and walked Russell Martin before Andruw Jones's sacrifice fly cut the Tigers' lead to 5–3.

Jeter struck out and Granderson walked before Valverde retired Robinson Canó on a groundout, sending the teams to Detroit with the series tied at a game apiece.

In a rematch of the Game 1 starters, the Yankees struck first off of Justin Verlander when Derek Jeter singled to lead off the first and scored on Curtis Granderson's triple.

A single loaded the bases before Miguel Cabrera grounded into a double play, but Austin Jackson scored to tie the game.

Inge hit a leadoff single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored again on an RBI double by Santiago in the fifth inning, giving the Tigers the lead.

Don Kelly hit a leadoff single and scored on an RBI double by Jhonny Peralta in the sixth to increase Detroit's lead.

In the seventh, after getting two outs, Verlander walked Jorge Posada and hit Russell Martin with a pitch before both men scored on a Brett Gardner RBI double, tying the game.

José Valverde recorded his 50th consecutive save in as many tries—including regular season—for the Tigers win, striking out Jeter with runners on first and second, both having reached on walks, to end the game.

Burnett was relieved after Don Kelly's two-out single in the bottom of the sixth, and he gave the Yankees what they were hoping for—tossing 5+2⁄3 innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, and four walks while striking out three.

A balk by the Tigers' reliever Al Alburquerque and an RBI single by pinch-hitter Jesús Montero brought in two more runs for the Yankees.

The next two batters—Derek Jeter and Granderson—both struck out, but Montero scored on a wild pitch by Tigers' reliever Daniel Schlereth during Granderson's at-bat.

José Valverde closed the door when he struck out Alex Rodriguez in the ninth, earning his 51st straight save of the combined 2011 season and postseason.

In the fifth, Adrián Beltré's throwing error to first allowed Damon to reach base, then Shoppach's second home run of the game made it 8−0 Tampa.

The Rays struck first on Kelly Shoppach's bases-loaded walk in the first inning and Matt Joyce's two-run home run in the fourth.

David Price, winless against the Rangers in his Major League career, held Texas without a run for six innings before giving up a Mike Napoli two-run homer after Adrián Beltré singled.

Later, in the bottom half, Sean Rodriguez hit an RBI groundout to score Johnny Damon and cut Texas's lead to two.

In the bottom of the eighth, Jennings cut the deficit to one on his second solo home run of the game; however, the Rays' comeback attempt was put to rest on a double play grounder by Kelly Shoppach in the ninth.

Beltré became the sixth player in MLB history to hit three home runs in a single postseason game, joining Babe Ruth (1926 and 1928 World Series), Bob Robertson (1971 NLCS), Reggie Jackson (1977 World Series), George Brett (1978 ALCS), and Adam Kennedy (2002 ALCS).