Updated 10/19/2012 03:00 PM
Locker Cleaning Day In Bronx For Shutout Yanks
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The New York Yankees will be heading back to the Bronx to clean out their lockers after being swept out of the American League Championship Series Thursday by the Detroit Tigers.
CC Sabathia struggled, allowing six runs before getting pulled in the fourth inning.
Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta each hit two-run homers off Sabathia.
The Tigers went on to win 8-1 to earn a trip to the World Series.
Now the focus for the Bombers turns to next year.
Alex Rodriguez, who came off the bench and went 0 for 2, says he expects to be back.
"I love New York City and love everything about being a Yankee. The highs are very high and the lows are extremely low. And there's no question the last few weeks were extremely difficult, not only on me, but on all my teammates," Rodriguez told reporters after the game.
"This is never easy. I've been on both sides. It's never easy. There's only one team that's gonna be happy when the year ends. But they did a lot of good things and overcame a lot of good things this year. We know we fell short. We understand that," said Yankees Manager Joe Girardi.
Needless to say, the team's disappointing loss can be seen far beyond the clubhouse.
Fans who gathered at the stadium on Friday were still feeling the effects of the mauling by the Tigers.
"I'm devastated, devastated. Yes," said one Yankees fan who added, "Get Derek Jeter back in."
"It was actually very sad but Detroit is a good team. What they got to do next year - well they got to definitely need to do something with A-Rod. We love him but he doesn't come through," said another Yankees fan.
The Bombers have not been to the World Series since 2009.
The last time they were swept in the playoffs was 1980, when they lost the league championship series against the Kansas City Royals.
The Tigers will now open the World Series in either St. Louis or San Francisco on Wednesday.
They last appeared in the Fall Classic in 2006 and are looking for their first title since 1984.
Meantime, the Cardinals are just one win away from setting up a rematch of the 2006 World Series.
The defending World Series champs opened a 3-1 lead over the Giants in the NLCS with an 8-3 win in St. Louis.
Game 5 takes place at 8 p.m.