Brandon McCarthy won his fourth straight decision with the New York Yankees and sixth straight overall as the The Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers 2-1 Monday night in the first of a four-game series. McCarthy (W: 7-10, 4.37 ERA) pitched 5.2 innings, allowing only an unearned run, walking two and striking out eight. Four Yankee relievers combined for 3.2 scoreless innings to seal the victory.
McCarthy is 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in five starts since coming to the Yankees early in July. The Yankees have won all five of his starts, and McCarthy also won his last two starts with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
David Roberston pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out Alex Avila and Rajai Davis to end the game and pick up his 30th save and third in three days.
This time, the Yankees did not need to come from behind. They scored first with both runs coming in the bottom of the third. Ichiro Suzuki scored on Jacoby Ellsbury's sacrifice fly. Ellsbury's drive might have cleared the loaded bases for a three-run double or triple if not for the spectacular diving catch by center fielder Ezequiel Carrera.
Later in the inning, Brian McCann singled home Brett Gardner to put the Yankees up 2-0.
Detroit scored its lone run in the fifth. Eugenio Suarez reached on a throwing error from third baseman Martin Prado and promptly stole second. Suarez, though, jammed his knee on the bag and left for pinch runner Andrew Romine, who scored on Ian Kinsler's single.
Initial evaluation on Suarez indicated a sprained left knee, and he will undergo further evaluation Tuesday.
Max Scherzer (L: 13-4, 3.24) suffered the tough-luck loss. He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs, both earned, on nine hits. He struck out four and walked three.
Chase Headley made his first career start at first base for the Yankees; Mark Teixeira was a late scratch because of light-headedness and dizziness. He felt better by the end of the game, and MLB.com' Jake Kring-Schreifels said that Teixeira should play Tuesday night.