Granderson Slam Lifts Yankees Over Tigers

The Yankees (28-23) got off to a good start in the first game of a three game series against the Detroit Tigers (24-28) on Friday night winning 9-4. C.C. Sabathia had a shaky start to the ballgame but settled down and managed to pick up the win putting him at 7-2 for the season.  Sabathia went seven innings gave up three runs on eight hits and struck out five.

The Tigers got on the board in the first inning when leadoff hitter Quintin Berry tripled and Danny Worth singled him in. Berry finished the game 3-5 with two runs scored.

The Yankees would answer back in the second inning scoring five runs. The Yankees loaded the bases off of Tigers starter Casey Crosby. Derek Jeter walked bringing in a run and tying the game at one. Curtis Granderson then blasted a Grand Slam home run over the right field wall putting the Yankees up 5-1. Granderson now has 17 home runs and 33 RBI. Casey Crosby only lasted 3 1/3 innings gave up six runs on four hits.

The Tigers fought back and put two on the board in the third inning thanks to a Ramon Santiago solo home run and a Prince Fielder RBI single.

In the fourth inning a Chris Stewart RBI single made the score 6-3. Andruw Jones doubled in Nick Swisher in the eighth inning and Alex Rodriguez lifted a two run home run in the ninth inning off of Octavio Dotel.  It was A-Rods eighth of the season.

The Yankees play the Tigers again tomorrow. Hiroki Kuroda (4-6 3.96) starts for the Yankees while Rick Porcello (3-4 5.21) goes for the Tigers. Pregame starts at 6:30, first pitch at 7:15 right here on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.