Yankees Fight Back, Beat Tigers 7-6

The Yankees (11-8) beat the Tigers (10-10) 7-6 in a back and forth game that came down to a wild ninth inning Friday night at Yankee Stadium.  Both starters Ivan Nova and Justin Verlander did not look like their usual selves each having their worst outings of the year. Verlander went six innings, gave up five runs on seven hits while Nova lasted 5 1/3 gave up six runs on 11 hits.

The Yankees got on the board first in the first inning after Alex Rodriguez hit an RBI single. A-Rod would later add a solo home run in the fourth, his fourth of the season and finished the game with three hits. Russell Martin blasted a 2-run homer in the fifth inning, to put the Yankees on top 3-2. In the sixth inning Nova got into trouble. Jhonny Peralta led off with a double and Ryan Rayburn followed with a single which led to a 2-run double off the bat of Austin Jackson. Boone Logan came on in relief and Prince Fielder followed with a RBI single scoring Jackson, putting the Tigers up 6-4. The Yankees would answer back in the bottom of the sixth with a run, and in the eighth were able to tie the game thanks to a Mark Teixeira RBI sac-fly.

In the bottom of the ninth Derek Jeter walked, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Jeter would then score after Tigers reliever Brayan Villarreal threw a wild pitch to Alex Rodriguez ending the game.  Mariano Rivera was credited with the win, his first of the year.

Tigers centerfielder Austin Jackson finished the game with four hits, including two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI. Miguel Cabrera’s RBI single in the third inning was his 1000^th career RBI.

The Yankees play again Saturday afternoon. The Tigers will start Drew Smyly (0-0 1.13) and the Yankees will send Freddy Garcia (0-1 9.75) to the mound. Pregame starts at 3:30, first pitch at 4:05 right here on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.