New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 5-3 to clinch series opener: MLB Update
The American League’s New York Yankees romped to a 5-3 win in their first outing against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Monday, 2nd May, to take a 1-0 lead in the four-game series.
The Yankees, who came into the game on the back of a 2-1 series win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, started positively in this series too. The designated Yankees hitter, Jorge Posada, led the game by hitting a runs-batted-in (RBI) single to deep centre
to take an early 2-0 lead. In the second inning, Eduardo Nunez added another RBI single, to extend the lead to 3-0 and put the opposition under extensive pressure.
However, Detroit’s catcher Alex Avila managed to break the shackles, and got his side back into the game. In the bottom of the second inning, he hit Yankees’ starter Bartolo Colon out of the stand for a homer, trimming the lead to 3-1. The hit proved an
obvious reprieve as Miguel Cabrera added an RBI single to cut the lead to 3-2 in the third inning.
After giving away early runs, both starters struck back and held the batters scoreless in their remaining innings. The Tigers’ hurler, Justin Verlander, came back brilliantly and took out eight batters over six innings. However, he gave eight hits, four
walks and three earned runs in his third loss of the season.
Despite the loss, he was still satisfied with his performance in which he tossed 127 pitches; three short of his career-high.
Verlander told reporters, "To be honest, that was the best I've felt all season. My fastball was so strong that I could not get it down, and that was getting me behind in the count and in trouble. In the long run, it is a positive if I feel this good, but
I have to be able to control it."
Yankees’ starter Bartolo Colon gave up three runs on seven hits, walked none and made seven strikeouts. After allowing two early runs, he made a strong comeback, but struggled again in seventh inning and gave Avila a second homer in the game.
After the game, Colon praised Avila by saying, "Every time I face him, he gets a hit off me. I tried my best, but he always ends up with a base hit."
The scores were then tied until ninth inning, before singles from Nick Swisher and Alex Rodriguez gave the Yankees a comfortable lead. Yankees’ closer Mariano Rivera then provided perfect back up and kept the opposition scoreless to snatch another triumph
for the club.
Swisher told reporters after the game, "I think today was definitely just one of those positive days. Everything just kind of seemed like things were going to go our way. It was nice to be that guy in that position."
The Tigers’ relievers, Brad Thomas, Al Alburquerque and Ryan Perry did not give any run in their short spells, but were unable to help their side avoid defeat. Detroit closer, Jose Valverde, gave away two runs over two hits in just one inning.
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