Yankees Avoid Sweep, Beat Tigers

In a battle of American League aces, C.C. Sabathia got the better of Justin Verlander, helping the Yankees avoid being swept in Detroit, winning 7-0.

C.C. threw seven strong innings, giving up just four hits and refusing to surrender a run to the Tigers potent line-up. The outing is sure to calm the many critics who were concerned that Sabathia’s diminished velocity would render him significantly less effective. This concern was magnified after his Opening Day start where he lasted only five innings, allowing four earned runs against the Red Sox.

In the second inning Francisco Cervelli laced an RBI double to put the Yankees on top 1-0. Shortly thereafter Jayson Nix belted a two run homer to extend the lead to three. In the top of the eighth a sacrifice fly by Ichiro and another RBI by Cervelli gave the Yankees bullpen a 5-0 cushion. Kevin Youkilis, who has been off to a hot start this season, added two more with a single in the top of the ninth.

David Robertson worked out of some trouble to secure a scoreless bottom of the eighth and Mariano Rivera, who was honored by the Tigers before the game, wrapped up the game in a non-save situation.