Detroit Tigers Lose Sundays Battle But Take Series 2-1

April 7, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) pitches during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Whenever the evil empire rolls into town fans get interested. The New York Yankees are the most hated and loved team in sport and Detroit Tigers fans love to beat them. This Yankees team is injured and played this series without many of their big bats. The absence of Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira left the Yankees with a patchwork line-up.  A line-up that my Detroit Jock City colleague Matt Synder (@synder_matthew) described on Twitter as a “who’s who of 2005 fantasy baseball.”

Yes the Yankees are starting a bunch of player near the end of their careers.  And yes they have started the season 2-4 but it still feels good to beat them. Even though the Detroit Tigers didn’t get the sweep today taking the first series at home against the Bronx Bombers give the home team some  strong momentum headed into the Toronto series.

Game Notes

Justin Verlander did not appear himself starting the game.  He gave up a two-run jack to Lance Nix in the top of the 2nd inning to take the three run lead. After that he settled down going 7 1/3 innings and giving up only 3 runs.  Justin Verlander’s start was the longest start of any pitcher in 2013.

Austin Jackson’s hit streak was snapped at five but he did reach base twice.  That means he has been on base every game so far this season.  Jackson has scored 7 of the teams 24 runs so far in 2013.

The offense works best when the lead-off hitter gets on.  In today’s game, the Detroit Tigers had trouble accomplishing this with the lead-off hitter only reaching once.

The Closer Committee was not called to order today but an interesting development did occur.  Committee chairman Phil Coke entered today’s game in the 8th inning with the Tigers trailing 3-0. Odd for a closer to enter into a game when his team is behind in the eighth inning. My guess is that Phil Coke is not the closer as some fans have suggested and the closer committee is still in effect.

Injured Yanks

This Yankees team is hampered with injuries.  So hampered in fact that they had to trade for Vernon Wells just before the regular season.  The next time the Detroit Tigers meet the New York Yankees will be August 8th.  The Yankees should have many of their pieces back from injury.

Exit Sandman

As tweeted by Fox Sports the Tigers gave “sandman” Mariano Rivera two bottles of dirt from the pitchers mounds at Comerica Park and Tigers Stadium. Mariano Rivera annoucned prior to the 2013 season that this would be his last for the Yankees.