Yankees Beat Tigers to Avoid Sweep

nytimes.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 7th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 7 Tigers 0

The New York Yankees were able to pick up a big win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon, in what was the best game overall from the entire Yankees team so far early in the season. The win puts the Yankees at (2-4) in the first week of the season.

Yankees Ace C.C. Sabathia had a bounce back start from a disappointing Opening Day start, as he was able to earn his first win of the season with the great start against the Tigers lineup. Sabathia went seven shutout innings, only allowing four hits, and three walks, while striking out four Tigers batters.

Tigers starter Justin Verlander, who is one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, didn’t have his best stuff on Sunday against a weak Yankees lineup, which resulted in his first loss of the season. Verlander went 7.1 innings allowing three runs, on seven hits, two walks, and surprisingly only had four strikeouts.



The bats for the Yankees really came alive late in this game against the Tigers bullpen, which doesn’t look very good early in the season. Ex-Yankee Phil Coke gave up two runs on three hits in the eighth inning, and then Octavio Dotel gave up another two runs in the ninth inning on three hits, and a walk.

Filling in at Shortstop for the injured Eduardo Nunez, who was filling in for the injured Derek Jeter, Jayson Nix got the start for the Yankees, and provided some unexpected pop off Verlander. Nix took Verlander deep for a two-run homerun in the second inning, as Nix had a very good start going three for four, with two RBIs, and two runs scored.

Kevin Youkilis continued to be the Yankees most consistent, and best hitter in the first week of the season on Sunday, as Youkilis had another multi-hit game, which is his third already this season. Youkilis went two for four at the plate, with his fourth double of the season, a walk, and two RBIs.

Catcher Francisco Cervelli also had a multi-hit game, as his good start to the season has made the move to let Russell Martin go seem like an ok move right now. Cervelli went two for four at the plate, with his first double of the season in the second inning, which got the Yankees on the board, as Ichiro Suzuki scored. Cervelli’s second hit in the eighth inning also earned him a RBI, as Vernon Wells was able to score.

Next up for the Yankees will be yet another afternoon game, as they head to Cleveland to play the Indians, and Nick Swisher.