Yankees Lose Series Opener to Tigers

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 5th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 3 Tigers 8

The New York Yankees after picking up their first win of the season on Thursday night against the Red Sox had the tough task of traveling to Detroit, and playing an extremely rare Friday afternoon game, which resulted in the Yankees third loss of the season.

Yankees Starter Ivan Nova looked like the pitcher of the second half of the 2012 season, which is something the Yankees hoped that they wouldn’t be seeing in 2013. Nova was all over the place, as the location of his pitches was a crapshoot all game, and at one point he went to a full count to six straight Tigers batters. Nova due to his ineffectiveness went only 4.2 innings, while allowing four runs on five hits, and two walks.



The Tigers Starter Doug Fister wasn’t great either, but his performance was better than Nova’s, which earned him the win. Fister went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, and two walks, but with some help from his powerful lineup was able to get his first win of the season. 

The big difference maker in this game was Tigers First Baseman Prince Fielder, who provided most of the offense in the win. Fielder went two for four at the plate, with both hits being homeruns, as Fielder hit a three-run homerun in the fifth inning off Boone Logan, and then a two-run homerun in the seventh inning against Shawn Kelley. 

The top of the Tigers order did a great job setting up their powerful middle of the order, something that the Yankees can’t let happen in the next two games of the series. Austin Jackson went two for four in the leadoff spot, with a walk, and run scored. The Tigers number two hitter Torii Hunter also had a multi-hit game, as he went two for four as well.

The Yankees offense didn’t do much, but Kevin Youkilis was able to have another good game, as his strong start to the season continues. Youkilis went two for four at the plate, as he hit his first homerun as a Yankee in the fifth inning, which scored Robinson Cano.

The injury depleted Yankees had another injury scare in the fourth inning, when Eduardo Nunez was hit by a pitch, and was forced to leave the game with a bruised bicep. The good news for Nunez and the Yankees is that the X-Rays came back negative, and Nunez is listed as day to day, so it would seem like that Jayson Nix will be filling in at Shortstop.

The Yankees will look to rebound from the loss on Friday on Saturday afternoon, as Phil Hughes gets the start against Max Scherzer.