Justin Verlander pitched 6.2 scoreless innings, and Miguel Cabrera and Brennan Boesch homered to lead Detroit to a 6-0 triumph Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park. The Tigers won three of four from the Yankees in a series that featured three shutouts.
New York was shutout twice in a series for the first time since May 11-13, 1999 against the Angels. Detroit won for the fourth time in their last six games.
The pitching match-up between Verlander and CC Sabathia featured a pair of 19-game winners from last season. However, Verlander (4-2) was dominant throughout the afternoon. He limited New York to four hits while striking out four and walking four.
The Yankees had a runner at second base in the first, second, fifth, sixth and seventh innings but failed to score.
After Verlander left, New York put runners at first and second with one out in the top of the eighth against Detroit reliever Joel Zumaya. However, Juan Miranda fouled out, and Don Kelly robbed Randy Winn of an extra-base hit with a sliding catch in front of the left field wall.
While New York was unable to solve Verlander, Detroit opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Gerald Laird, who entered the game hitting only .157, blooped a check-swing RBI single to right field to score Boesch from second.
In the bottom of the fourth, Cabrera and Boesch hit back-to-back home runs over the right field wall to give Detroit a 3-0 lead. Cabrera smacked his eighth home run of the season, while Boesch collected his fifth RBI of the series.
Detroit completed the scoring with a three-run sixth inning. After a pair of singles, Cabrera delivered a two-run double off the center field wall. Later in the inning, Laird produced his second two-out, run scoring hit with an RBI double to score Cabrera and give the Tigers a 6-0 advantage.
Sabathia (4-2) allowed nine hits and a season-high six runs over six innings. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. Ivan Nova pitched two scoreless innings of relief in his Major League debut.
After a 3-4 road trip, New York will return to Yankee Stadium for a weekend series against Minnesota. The Twins will send Scott Baker (4-2, 4.57) to the mound Friday against A.J. Burnett (4-1, 3.40). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.
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