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10/14/2012 10:59 AM

Ankle injury knocks Yankees' Jeter out of postseason

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The New York Yankees must continue the American League Championship Series without Derek Jeter, after the team captain broke his left ankle while diving for a ball in the 12th inning of Saturday's series opener.

The 38-year-old shortstop had to be helped off the field in Yankee Stadium and will need at least three months to recover from the injury.

Jeter will be replaced on the roster by Eduardo Nunez.

The Bronx Bombers were trailing the Detroit 4-0 in the ninth inning when they rallied for four runs.

Ichiro Suzuki smacked a two-run shot that cut the Tigers' lead in half, and then Raul Ibanez, who hit the tying and game-winning home runs in Game 3 of the American League Division Series last week, scored a two-run homer.

The Tigers took a 5-4 lead in the 12th inning, before Jeter's injury, and then scored a sixth run to seal the deal.

Yankee Manager Joe Girardi said the team will regroup after losing its captain.

"Jeet's going to tell us 'let's go.' I mean, that's what he's going to tell us," Girardi said. "And you know I'm sad for him, because I know how much he loves to play and play and these type of situations. But he would tell us, 'let's go.'"

"You know, it's terrible, but we've got a series that we've got to play, we're going to win this series and somebody will have to step in and fill that spot, you know?" said pitcher Andy Pettitte.

"I wish him a speedy recovery, and for him to get better, but we've got to continue to play," said Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson. "Whether it's him or anybody else going down, it's just part of the game."

"It's really disappointing to have Derek out of the lineup. We know how much this game means to him, especially the playoffs mean so much to him," said Yankees first baseman Mark Teixiera. "We probably feel more for him than anyone else who would go out."

Injuries have plagued the Yankees' aging stars this season. Relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, 42, tore the ACL in his right knee back in May and 40-year-old Pettitte broke his left ankle in June.

Yankees fans rode an emotional roller coaster in the extra innings of Saturday's game, but many still hoped the Bombers could win the ALCS and land a spot in the World Series.

"I thought they were going to win it in extra innings definitely. Just like they did when [Ibanez] did it in the [ALDS] series," said a fan.

"It kept you on the edge of your seat and I'm very disappointed at the outcome," said another fan.

The Yankees and the Tigers play Game 2 of the series at 4 p.m. Sunday. Anibal Sanchez gets the ball for Detroit against Hiroki Kuroda.

The teams get Monday off before playing Game 3 in Detroit on Tuesday.