DETROIT (Reuters) – Struggling sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson were left off the New York Yankees’ American League Championship Series lineup for Thursday’s do-or-die playoff game against the Detroit Tigers.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who had an extra night to think about the decision after Wednesday’s game was rained out, opted to stick with the same starting lineup he originally penciled in given the offensive struggles of the duo.

DETROIT (Reuters) – Rain forced the postponement of Game Four of the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, ensuring baseball’s most successful franchise staved off post-season elimination for another day.

The Yankees, trailing the best-of-seven series 3-0, arrived at Comerica Park needing a win to extend their season but got a reprieve when a storm rolled into Detroit moving Game Four to a 1607 EST (2007 GMT) start on Thursday.

By Steve Keating

(Reuters) – With a Triple Crown, a home run king and a Prince, the Detroit Tigers are hoping to reclaim Major League Baseball’s throne and give the Motor City its first World Series winner in 28 years.

The Tigers spent much of the regular season playing like commoners but enter the playoffs as a dangerous opponent few would like to face, including the American League (AL) West champion Oakland Athletics they will face in a five-game division series starting Saturday in Detroit.

MEDINAH, Illinois (Reuters) – As Tiger Woods’ Ryder Cup wingman, Steve Stricker flew under the radar at Medinah Country Club but found himself in the media crosshairs on Sunday after failing to contribute a single point as the United States narrowly lost to Europe.

One of Davis Love III’s four captain’s picks, Stricker was expected to team up with the hard-to-match Woods as a potent point producing partnership for the United States.

MEDINAH, Illinois (Reuters) – Three of the four American rookies who seized the Ryder Cup spotlight with their fearless play slipped into the shadows during the decisive singles on Sunday, as Europe claimed a shock victory.

Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker and Keegan Bradley became instant Ryder Cup darlings with their dazzling debut in the opening foursomes and fourballs on Friday but were mostly invisible on Sunday as Europe stormed back from a 10-6 deficit to take the trophy.

MEDINAH, Illinois (Reuters) – Tiger Woods exited Medinah Country Club the forgotten man on Sunday, denied the chance to become the U.S. Ryder Cup hero then handing Europe the outright victory to cap a dismal weekend.

The Americans had started the last day with a commanding 10-6 lead but as the afternoon wore on and the advantage slowly slipped away, it appeared the Ryder Cup could come down to the final match between Italy’s Francesco Molinari and Woods, leaving the 14-time major winner a shot at redemption for his miserable play.

MEDINAH, Illinois (Reuters) – United States Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III was left stunned as Europe stormed back from a 10-6 deficit to steal the golden trophy from under American noses at Medinah Country Club on Sunday.

While the European winners and their fans sang and celebrated in the twilight, the shockwaves of the loss washed over the U.S. team and the massive crowd of mostly American supporters that had come out on brilliant Autumn afternoon expecting to cheer a victory that had appeared in the bag.

MEDINAH, Illinois (Reuters) – The crowd finally made its presence felt at the Ryder Cup on Saturday helping carry the United States to a commanding 10-6 lead.

During the buildup to the biennial showdown between the U.S. and Europe, American captain Davis Love III had made it clear he was counting on the home fans to lift his team and got what he asked for on Saturday as roars echoed across the sprawling Medinah Country Club.

MEDINAH, Illinois (Reuters) – The United States Ryder Cup team put smiles on millions of American golf fans on Saturday but Tiger Woods was not among them.

The biennial U.S.-Europe showdown has never brought out the best in Woods but the 14-time major winner slumped to new lows at Medinah Country Club, losing all three of his matches and being benched for the first time in his Ryder Cup career.

MEDINAH, Illinois (Reuters) – The Ryder Cup has seen many great partnerships but never one quite like Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, who have turned a May-September bromance into golf’s dynamic duo.

Bradley, a fiery rookie and Mickelson, the most experienced member of the American brigade making his ninth appearance at the biennial competition, have developed the type of chemistry rarely seen on a U.S. Ryder Cup team.