DETROIT, MI - After being shelled in his season-opening start, C.C. Sabathia pitched the way many have come to expect on Sunday when the New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers 7-0 in the series finale. The veteran left-hander provided a much-needed seven solid innings on the mound, completely shutting down the Tigers lineup and effectively saving a depleted Yankees bullpen. Sabathia scattered just four hits and three walks while striking out four hitters. After questions about Sabathia’s velocity earlier this week, the Yankees ace was consistently sitting between 90 and 92 miles per hour with his fastball, a significant improvement from his first start of the season.
When Sabathia left, he would turn the reins over to David Robertson. Robertson allowed a pair of hits, and runners were on the corners with just one out, but he coaxed a short fly ball out of Victor Martinez before striking out Matt Tuiasosopo to end the inning. Veteran closer Mariano Rivera would come on for the ninth inning, and preserved the shutout despite letting up a pair of hits.
The Yankees got the bats going early and jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the time the second inning ended. Francisco Cervelli brought home the first run, as Ichiro Suzuki scored on Cervelli’s double to left field. Two batters later, Cervelli scored on a two-run home run by shortstop Jayson Nix.
Two more runs were tacked on in the eighth inning, and again it was Cervelli coming up big. One batter after Ichiro Suzuki gave the Yankees a four-run lead with a sacrifice fly, Cervelli laced a single into center field that would score Vernon Wells. In the ninth inning, a Kevin Youkilis single provided two more insurance runs, making the score 7-0 Yankees.
The Tigers made a nice gesture towards New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera prior to Sunday’s game. As the first stop on Rivera’s farewell tour, the Tigers presented him with a display case containing photos of him pitching at the old Tiger Stadium and at Comerica Park, flanked by bottles containing infield dirt from both ballparks. Rivera received a friendly ovation from the crowd when he entered to pitch the ninth inning in a non-save situation.
The Yankees will fly to Cleveland on Sunday night, where they are slated to partake in the Indians’ home opener on Monday. Hiroki Kuroda (0-1, 13.50 ERA) will be on the mound for the Yankees, with Ubaldo Jimenez (0-0, 1.50 ERA) pitching for the Indians. First pitch will be at 4:05 PM.
Follow Dan on Twitter at @danpfeiffer74 for all the latest on the New York Yankees.
Comments