A.J. Burnett solid as Yankees top Tigers 10-1 in ALDS Game 4, is saved by Curtis Granderson catches

A.J. Burnett and the Yankees staved off elimination with a 10-1 win over the Tigers Tuesday night at Comerica Park, sending the series back to the Bronx for a decisive Game 5 Thursday night with a trip to the ALCS on the line.

Two hours before the game, Nick Swisher stood in the Yankees dugout and made a bold prediction.

"A.J. is going to dominate," Swisher said. "I just feel it."

Burnett had a couple of tense moments, but he held the Tigers to one run on four hits and four walks over 5-2/3 innings, giving the Yankees the performance they desperately needed with their season on the line.

PHOTOS: YANKS DRUB TIGERS IN ALDS GAME 4

The big night for Burnett and the Bombers was twice saved by an inspired night in center field from Curtis Granderson, who also contributed an RBI double in the fifth.

Joe Girardi was prepared to pull Burnett early - he had Cory Wade warming up in the first inning after the starter loaded the bases - but Burnett escaped the jam and held the Tigers in check for the next four-plus innings, his lone mistake a leadoff homer by Victor Martinez in the fourth.

The Yankees will send rookie Ivan Nova to the mound for Game 5 Thursday night, while the Tigers will hand the ball to Doug Fister in the decisive contest. The winner will take on the Rangers in the ALCS after Texas knocked out Tampa Bay Tuesday.

Girardi awoke knowing that Tuesday night's game might be the Yankees' final one of the season, and while he had faith, he realized the predicament.

"You understand that, and you think about how hard you worked," Girardi said hours before the game. "With the players, how hard they worked all year long, you don't want it to end today. You don't ever want it to end until it's the last out of the World Series that you get. And that's hard if it does."

Fortunately for the Yankees, it's not over.

Burnett's night started off in typical fashion, as he walked Austin Jackson to lead off the game. Ramon Santiago tried to bunt him to second, but he popped it up for a wasted out. Delmon Young grounded out, moving Jackson to third, then Burnett intentionally walked Miguel Cabrera and walked Martinez, loading the bases without giving up a hit.

Don Kelly, starting his first game of the series, drilled a ball to deep center that appeared to be over Granderson's head, but the center fielder - who initially broke in  - came up with a leaping catch to save three runs and take Burnett off the hook.