Yanks Go Yard Recap: Pitching And Prince Send New York Yankees To 1-3

For all the talk about the New York Yankees depleted lineup, the pitching, or lack thereof, has been the story for the first four games of the season. You can’t win when you give up 23 runs in your three losses. The team ERA is 6.43. It was the same story today as the Yankees lost in the Tigers’ home opener 8-3.

April 5, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher

(48) sits in dugout during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Tigers got it started in the bottom of the first when Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter singled. Miguel Cabrera followed with a fielder’s choice to drive Jackson in. In the second, Andy Dirks walked and stole second. Three batters later, Omar Infante drove him in with a single.

The Yankees did have the lead with a three run fifth. Chris Stewart singled and was erased on Brett Gardner‘s groundout. Robinson Cano singled to move Gardner to third. Doug Fister uncorked a wild pitch that let Gardner score. Kevin Youkilis then hit his first homer as a Yankee.

Then the Yankees ran into a buzz-saw named Prince Fielder. In the bottom half of the inning, Infante singled and Jackson walked. Hunter grounded into a double play, but Ivan Nova then hit Cabrera with a pitch. Boone Logan was brought into face Fielder, and he launched a three run homer.

In the sixth, Alex Avila homered of Shaun Kelley. In the seventh, Cabrera walked and Fielder hit his second homer of the day to conclude the scoring.

Yanks Go Yard Game Ball: Youkilis

Game two of the series will be at 4:05 tomorrow. Phil Hughes will come off the DL to make the start and will face Max Scherzer.

Notes: Eduardo Nunez left the game after being hit by a pitch. He has a bruised bicep and is day to day. The Yankees traded minor-league infielder Jose Mojica to the Phillies. Clay Rapada cleared release waivers and is a free agent.