The opener resumed after a delay of 23 hours, 29 minutes. There was no national anthem and official scorer Jordan Sprechman announced Verlander's pitching line, a day later, one batter into the game. The Bleacher Creatures gave Yankees starters a second roll call.

The only other suspended game in postseason history was Game 5 of the 2008 World Series in Philadelphia, stopped after 5½ innings because of rain and snow. Play picked up two days later, and the Phillies finished off Tampa Bay to win the title.

That bizarre scenario led Major League Baseball to adopt a rule in January 2009 ensuring that any postseason game halted after it begins will resume from the point of suspension rather than postponed and restarted another day.

The forecast was ominous for Saturday as well, and a steady drizzle cut short Detroit's batting practice after only a few minutes as the grounds crew covered the field.

But the sky cleared up and the tarp came off 50 minutes before the first pitch. Play began on time and was never interrupted on a windy, 55-degree night. The first day of the month, and it certainly felt like October.

Jim Rogash / Getty Images The Week in Sports Pictures The nation grieved for those hurt, killed and affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. After one of the suspects was caught on Friday — following a day-long lockdown and manhunt — sports returned to Boston over the weekend.

Detroit nearly went ahead in the fifth when catcher Alex Avila tried to score from second on Peralta's sharp single to center. Granderson fired to Jeter, who relayed to the plate from just behind second base. The throw was a little wide but in time for Russell Martin to apply a quick tag.

With runners at second and third, Leyland went to his bench. But pinch-hitter Wilson Betemit, a left-handed hitter, flied out to end the inning.

Nova caught a break in the sixth after issuing a leadoff walk with a 2-1 lead. With the runner going, Magglio Ordonez hit a grounder up the middle and Cano, covering second base on the steal, turned it into an easy double play. Nick Swisher followed with a diving catch in right, and Nova pumped his fist.

Young homered for the Tigers and Alex Rodriguez had an RBI groundout, both in the first inning Friday.

NOTES: It was the 50th anniversary of Roger Maris' record-breaking 61st home run at the old Yankee Stadium on the final day of the 1961 season. ... Plate umpire Tony Randazzo was shaken up a couple of times when he was hit by balls that Nova bounced. One pitch went under Martin's arm and hit Randazzo in the chin, like an uppercut. Randazzo went down and was checked by Yankees assistant athletic trainer Steve Donohue before remaining in the game. After the final out, Randazzo was taken to a hospital for precautionary X-rays.