After being held scoreless earlier in the day, New York responded with their own shutout in an 8-0 triumph over Detroit Wednesday evening at Comerica Park. The teams split the day-night doubleheader with the Tigers winning the afternoon affair, 2-0.
With the win, New York ended a season-high three-game losing streak. Detroit’s two runs in the bottom of the sixth in the first game were the only two Tiger runs scored in the doubleheader.
Phil Hughes (5-0) put together another impressive outing and lowered his ERA to 1.38. He limited Detroit to five hits over seven innings while striking out eight and walking one. Mariano Rivera, on the mound for the first time since April 30, pitched a perfect ninth to complete the Yankees third shutout of the season.
After failing to produce any runs earlier in the day, New York immediately scored in the top of the first inning. Brett Gardner, who finished with three hits, singled and stole second. He eventually scored on a two-out RBI single by Alex Rodriguez. Mark Teixeira added another two-out run-scoring single in the third to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. It was Teixeira’s first hit in 14 career at bats against Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman (1-2).
Hughes made the lead stand by thwarting a pair of Detroit scoring opportunities. Miguel Cabrera led off the bottom of the second with a double, but Hughes struck out the next three hitters to end the inning. In the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out. However, Hughes struck out Alex Avila and induced Don Kelly to pop out to end the threat.
Bonderman pitched effectively over seven innings, but dropped to 4-8 in his career against the Yankees. He allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and a season-high seven strikeouts.
New York broke the game open with a six-run ninth inning. With one out, Francisco Cervelli delivered an RBI single off Phil Coke to extend the lead to 3-0. Alfredo Figaro relieved Coke and got the second out on a force out at home. However, Gardner followed with an RBI infield single and Teixeira added a two-run single. After Rodriguez’s RBI double, Teixeira scampered home on a wild pitch for the sixth run of the inning.
New York and Detroit will complete their four-game series Thursday afternoon. CC Sabathia (4-1, 3.04) will take the mound for the Yankees, and the Tigers will counter with Justin Verlander (3-2, 4.50). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.
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