The New York Yankees played Thursday afternoon's game with the Detroit Tigers without Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, and Brian McCann. However, an RBI ground-rule double from Stephen Drew was all it took for the Yankees to win as they shut out the Detroit Tigers 1-0.
With runners on first and second in the bottom of the fourth, Drew lofted one down the left-field line (video) that landed fair by mere inches and then took a left turn, bouncing into the stands in foul territory for a ground-rule double. Carlos Beltran scored the game's only run on that hit, one of nine that the Tigers' Rick Porcello (L: 13-6, 3.09 ERA) scattered over seven innings. Porcello also struck out five Yankees and walked none in taking the tough-luck loss. The RBI was Drew's sixth in seven games as a Yankee.
Shane Greene (W: 3-1, 2.89) pitched 8+ scoreless innings, allowing only five hits. He walked three and struck out five. Greene went out for the ninth in attempt to complete the game, but Ian Kinsler lined the first pitch into center field for a hit. Manager Joe Girardi then went to his closer, David Robertson.
Robertson walked Victor Martinez. Then, with two on and no outs, pinch hitter Miguel Cabrera grounded into a double play. Robertson then got Don Kelly to pop up to end the game, giving Roberston his 31st save in 33 chances.
The Yankees took three of four from Detroit this week and are now 4.5 games behind Baltimore for first place in the A.L. East and a half game behind Toronto for second place and the A.L. Wild Card, pending the outcome of the Orioles/Blue Jays game Thursday night. The Yankees host Cleveland over the weekend and then travel to Baltimore for three beginning Monday, August 11.
Detroit, meanwhile, holds a three-game lead over Kansas City in the A.L. Central, pending the Royals' game with Arizona. Detroit travels to Toronto for a weekend series and then to Pittsburgh for two before returning home on Wednesday, August 13.