The New York Yankees traveled to Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, to take on the red hot Detroit Tigers. After outstanding pitching and defensive performances from both sides, the Tigers came away with a 2-1 victory. Detroit now has an 11-2 record, and New York is 6-7 overall.
Alfredo Simon got the start for the Tigers and left with a lead to help get his record to 3-0 over his first three starts. Simon went 7.1 innings and gave up just one earned run on seven hits and no walks. His only blemish was a home run to Mark Teixiera in the second inning. The pitcher from the Dominican Republic threw 106 pitches and struck out seven Yankee hitters.
Simon gave the ball up to Joba Chamberlain, who pitched 0.2 innings of perfect baseball. As a matter of fact, he threw just two pitches.
Joakim Soria came in to close the game, and after 13 pitches, the Tigers had Game 1 in their back pockets. That was Soria's fifth save of the season. He has a 1.35 ERA.
The Tigers scored their only runs in the seventh inning. J.D. Martinez singled to shallow left center to score Rajai Davis. Then, Yoenis Cespdes singled to shallow center to score Victor Martinez, who really had to hustle to get home safely.
Carsten Charles (CC) Sabathia took the ball and faced the Tigers for Game 1. He was as dominant as the old Sabathia was just a few years back. The veteran starting pitcher went 8.0 innings strong while giving up two earned runs on seven hits and three walks in the loss. He threw 96 pitches and struck out five. The lefty is now 0-3 with a 4.35 ERA on the season.
The Yankees scored their only run on Teixeira's solo home run to right field in the second inning.
On Tuesday, Detroit will send Kyle Lobstein (1-0, 5.40 ERA) to the mound because of Justin Verlander's injury to pitch against Nathan Eovaldi (0-0, 4.35 ERA) of the Yankees.