Tigers Top Yankees As Verlander Out Duels Tanaka

The New York Yankees fell 6-1 to the Detroit Tigers  at Yankee Stadium Saturday night as Justin as Verlander out dueled Masahiro Tananka.

Ian Kinsler led the way for the Tigers with five runs batted in. The Tigers scored four of their six runs via home runs, Nick Castellanos put them up 1-0 with a home run in the second inning. Kinsler added a three run shot in the fifth.

The Yankees had tied the game at 1-1 in the third. Chase Headley drilled a triple. It appeared that the ball had hit the foul pole. The way the ball jolted back onto the field, manager Joe Girardi contended that it had to have hit the pole. But after a review, it was determined that Headley would have to settle for a triple. Rob Refsnyder singled Headley home.

The Yankees completed an exciting double play in the fourth. Brett Gardner back peddled onto the warning track to haul in a long fly ball. Gardner rifled a throw to Didi Gregorius who whirled and fired to first to double up J. D. Martinez, who had rushed through second base. Martinez put on the brakes and dashed back toward first when Gardner made the catch.

Tanaka pitched 6.1 innings. He allowed five runs on six hits. He struck out four and walked one. He pitched on four days rest. With Verlander at his best, the number of days rest really was not the difference.

The Yankees loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth. Headley game to bat with the tying run in the on deck circle. But he dribbled a weak ground ball to Miguel Cabrera for the final out.

Now the Yankees look forward to Old Timer’s Day tomorrow afternoon. Memories will be made as the Yankees stars of the past suit up once again.  The real game will pit Michael Pineda against Michael Fulmer for the Tigers.