Justin Verlander rubs trainer's head for good luck

After manager Jim Leyland pulled Justin Verlander in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees, the Detroit Tigers starter could only watch as the Yankees started a last inning rally with closer Phil Coke on the mound.

How did the righthanded ace handle the tense moments in the dugout while he watched Coke give up a couple of hits before recording the final two outs — Verlander rubbed trainer Doug Teter's bald head for good luck.

It was pretty funny to see Verlander using the same arm that just threw 131 pitches trying to bring some positive mojo to the Tigers while giving Teter a wax job.

TBS announcer Ernie Johnson joked that "he actually had hair before Verlander started doing that."

If it seemed like Verlander's vigorous hand lingered a little too long — his girlfriend Kate Upton need not be jealous —  the superstitious ritual worked.

The Tigers went on to defeat the Yankees, 2-1, sending the Bronx Bombers to the brink of elimination.  Detroit leads the best-of-seven series 3-0.