(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Yankees(21-10) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| Detroit (18-14) « | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | x | 5 | 8 | 0 |
SV: J. Valverde (9)
It was a frustrating and ugly loss for the Yankees in Detroit tonight, as they fell 5-4 to the Tigers. Sergio Mitre started for the Yankees, and was actually better than I thought he would be.
It started out rough for Mitre, who allowed three runs in the first two innings to give the Tigers to a 3-0 lead. Both runs in the first came after the Tigers had nobody on with two out. Magglio Ordonez singled, and then Miguel Cabrera followed with an infield single, and both runners would move up on Alex Rodriguez's throwing error. The ball was hit to A-Rod's left, he knocked it down, but recovered quickly and threw to first. The ball hopped past Mark Teixeira and into the stands. Rookie Brennan Boesch then singled just past a diving Teixeira to drive in two.
Mitre would settle down after the second, and at one point retired 7 out of 8 batters, but our old friend Johnny Damon took him deep for a solo homer in the 5th to knock Mitre out of the game. It wasn't a great start, but like I said before it was more than I expected. Plus, had the Yankees done anything tonight with men on base they would have won the game.
Yes, this game was all about missed opportunities for the Yanks, as they went just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on as a team.
It started early when the Yankees putting the first two on in the second before Tigers starter Brad Thomas retired Marcus Thames, Brett Gardner and Randy Winn in order to leave the runners stranded.
They did cut the Tigers lead to 3-2 in the third, when Mark Teixeira launched his sixth homer of the season, and two-run shot off Thomas.
Tex failed to come through two innings later, when he weakly hit into a double play with two on and one out to end the inning.
The Yankees loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth. Joel Zumaya was in the game, and had just walked Gardner to load 'em up, but for some reason Winn hacked at the first pitch and flew out to left. I'm sure he was sitting on a fastball, and he got a 101 mph fastball right down broadway, but you've got to be more patient in that situation.
After Detroit extended their lead to 5-2 with a run in the seventh off Boone Logan, who allowed an
RBI triple to left-handed Brennan Boesche, the Yankees did have one more rally in their bones. They would load the bases off against Zumaya in the eighth. Thames then drove in a run with an RBI single. Phil Coke then came in to face Gardner, who drove in a run with a force out. Winn then popped out for the second out bringing his total of men left on base for the night to seven. Coke was then replaced by Ryan Perry, who came in to face Derek Jeter. Jeet lined a ball deep to right, but Ordonez came running and made what a game-saving diving grab. With two out, if that ball gets by him the Yankees score two runs and I could be sitting here writing about a great comeback victory.
Jose Valverde came on for the ninth and set Swisher, Teixeira and Rodriguez down in order, all on K's. Speaking of Valverde, someone needs to slap this dude. I'm sure it's annoying to other fans when Joba pumps his fist after a strike out to end an inning, but he has nothing on this yutz. Instead of describing his antics, why don't you just watch for yourself.Let's look at a bright spot, shall we?
Joba Chamberlain's performance was certainly a bright spot. He struck out the side in the 8th on 14 pitches and had velocity that reminded me of 2007 Joba. I'm not sure if the radar gun was accurate tonight in Detroit, but if it was, Joba's heater was averaging 96.76 mph and topped out at 98.3. If correct, this was the best velocity we've seen from Joba in a long time, and to go along with it he had a slider that Kenny Singleton called "absolutely filthy." He's been better lately, but this was as good as he's looked in a long time.
Besdies Joba, and a decent outing from David Robertson, tonight was not a fun one for the Yanks, and with Javier Vazquez starting tomorrow, the Yankees are going to need to score a lot against Tigers starter Rick Porcello to avoid their first three game skid of the season. Rick Porcello will make the start for the Tigers. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and the game will be on MY9.
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
| Derek Jeter, SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .286 |
| Nick Swisher, RF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .306 |
| Mark Teixeira, 1B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .202 |
| Alex Rodriguez, 3B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .286 |
| Robinson Cano, 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .353 |
| Jorge Posada, C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .280 |
| Francisco Cervelli, PR-C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .400 |
| Marcus Thames, DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .378 |
| Brett Gardner, CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .333 |
| Randy Winn, LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | .200 |
| Totals | 33 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 5 | | |
| Batting | ||||||||
| HR: Teixeira (6, 3rd inning off Thomas, B, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Swisher; Teixeira 4; Rodriguez, A 2; Cano; Posada; Thames; Winn. RBI: Teixeira 2 (22), Thames (5), Gardner (10). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Winn 3; Jeter. GIDP: Teixeira. Team RISP: 1-for-10. Team LOB: 9. BASERUNNING CS: Rodriguez, A (2, 2nd base by Thomas, B/Laird). PO: Rodriguez, A (1st base by Thomas, B). | ||||||||
| Fielding | ||||||||
| DP - Jeter-Cano-Teixeira | ||||||||
| E - Alex Rodriguez (2, Throwing) | ||||||||
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| Sergio Mitre (L,0-1) | 4.1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3.86 |
| David Robertson | 1.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10.61 |
| Boone Logan | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3.38 |
| Joba Chamberlain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2.45 |
| IBB - Boesch by David Robertson | ||||||||
| WP - David Robertson (2) | ||||||||
| Pitches-Strikes - Sergio Mitre 69-37, David Robertson 36-21, Boone Logan 18-8, Joba Chamberlain 14-10 | ||||||||
| Ground Balls-Fly Balls - Sergio Mitre 7-2, David Robertson 2-1, Boone Logan 2-0 | ||||||||
| Batters Faced - Sergio Mitre 20, David Robertson 8, Boone Logan 5, Joba Chamberlain 3 | ||||||||
| PLAYER OF THE GAME: Brennan Boesch (2-for-3, 3B, 3 RBI) HONORABLE MENTION: Miguel Cabrera (2-for-3, 2 R) GOAT OF THE GAME: The lineup |
