Mon 4/20: Tigers 2 – Yankees 1

Tue 4/21: Yankees 5 – Tigers 2

Wed 4/22: Yankees 13 – Tigers 4

Thu 4/23: Yankees 2 – Tigers 1



The Tigers offense put on a dismal showing, as the team dropped its first series of the season.

KEY MOMENTS

The Tigers found very little success against CC Sabathia on Monday until the 7th inning. After an intentional walk of Victor Martinez to put two on with two outs, JD Martinez and Yoenis Cespedes hit back to back RBI singles to give the Tigers a narrow 2-1 lead.

and hit back to back RBI singles to give the Tigers a narrow 2-1 lead. The very next inning, the Yankees had runners at the corners with just one out. Alfredo Simon was lifted for Joba Chamberlain , who immediately got Jacoby Ellsbury to ground out into a sharp double play to Ian Kinsler.

, who immediately got Jacoby Ellsbury to ground out into a sharp double play to Ian Kinsler. On Tuesday, the Tigers went to Ian Krol down 1-0 in the 7th inning. Krol prompty gave up home runs to two of the three batters he faced, pushing the Yankees lead to 3.

down 1-0 in the 7th inning. Krol prompty gave up home runs to two of the three batters he faced, pushing the Yankees lead to 3. David Price started off Wednesday’s game in the worst possible way. He threw an astonishing 51 pitches in the 1st inning, giving up 5 hits, 2 walks, and hitting 1 batter. The Tigers were down 6-0 before their first batter.

started off Wednesday’s game in the worst possible way. He threw an astonishing 51 pitches in the 1st inning, giving up 5 hits, 2 walks, and hitting 1 batter. The Tigers were down 6-0 before their first batter. As bad as the top of the inning was, the Tigers managed to load the bases in the bottom of the 1st, thanks to a based loaded walk and ground out, as well as an Alex Avila 2-run single. Unfortunately, the Tigers would not add to these 4 runs for the remainder of the game.

2-run single. Unfortunately, the Tigers would not add to these 4 runs for the remainder of the game. The game Thursday was tied at 1-1 in the 8th inning. Tom Gorzelanny faced Brian McCann with runners on the corners and on out, and induced a sharply hit grounder to first. Unforunately, Miguel Cabrera could not field it cleanly, and the Yankees took the lead.

PLAYERS & STATISTICS

At times it looked like Alfredo Simon was struggling, but he again ended up with a very solid start. He gave up 7 hits and a lone run via a Mark Teixeira solo shot, but he stuck out 7 and put the Tigers in a great position to win the game.

was struggling, but he again ended up with a very solid start. He gave up 7 hits and a lone run via a Mark Teixeira solo shot, but he stuck out 7 and put the Tigers in a great position to win the game. James McCann has struggled recently, going hitless in the series. Overall, he has batted just .136 this year. He is still young and adjusting to his first season in the majors, but he has seemed over-matched at the plate in the first few weeks.

has struggled recently, going hitless in the series. Overall, he has batted just .136 this year. He is still young and adjusting to his first season in the majors, but he has seemed over-matched at the plate in the first few weeks. Kyle Lobstein had a better start than his last time out, giving up 3 H, 4 BB, and 1 R in 6 innings. With Justin Verlander still recovering on the DL, Lobstein must provide solid starts when called upon.

had a better start than his last time out, giving up 3 H, 4 BB, and 1 R in 6 innings. With Justin Verlander still recovering on the DL, Lobstein must provide solid starts when called upon. Most of the middle of the Tigers lineup has recently cooled off, but JD Martinez had a quality series. Over the four games he went 6/14, knocked in 2 runs, and scored 3 times.

had a quality series. Over the four games he went 6/14, knocked in 2 runs, and scored 3 times. Starts do not get much worse than the outing by David Price on Wednesday. His final line: 2-1/3 IP, 8 ER, 10 H, 3 BB, 2 K. Yikes.

on Wednesday. His final line: 2-1/3 IP, 8 ER, 10 H, 3 BB, 2 K. Yikes. Anibal Sanchez turned in a solid outing, giving up just 1 hit over 6-1/3 innings. He did lose a few batters to walks after being ahead in the count, but the only run to score off of him came on a 6th inning balk.

THOUGHTS & OBSERVATIONS

Victor Martinez struggled mightily in the series, going an embarrassing 0/10. It is not worth over-analyzing his injury, but the recent lack of firepower in the Tigers lineup directly relates to Victor’s early woes.

struggled mightily in the series, going an embarrassing 0/10. It is not worth over-analyzing his injury, but the recent lack of firepower in the Tigers lineup directly relates to Victor’s early woes. There were some hard hit balls by Ian Kinsler during the series, but he did not have the results to show it. If he continues to make solid contact, some of those at bats should turn into hits.

during the series, but he did not have the results to show it. If he continues to make solid contact, some of those at bats should turn into hits. The Tigers hit into 9 double plays over the course of the series, including two by Kinsler and three by Miguel Cabrera . Many came at inopportune moments, either killing rallies or preventing any traction for the offense.

. Many came at inopportune moments, either killing rallies or preventing any traction for the offense. Al Alburquerque did not have a great series, not finding much success in either of his appearances. Some of this can be attributed to the nasty weather, but the Tigers really need him to be solid out of the pen.

did not have a great series, not finding much success in either of his appearances. Some of this can be attributed to the nasty weather, but the Tigers really need him to be solid out of the pen. The Tigers have been fairly successful on the basepaths this season, ranking 5th in the league with 13 steals. However, there have been a handful of baserunning errors which need to be eliminated, including a pickoff of Jose Iglesias and a doubling-off of JD Martinez .

and a doubling-off of . Overall, the Yankees pitchers held the Tigers offense mostly in check. The Tigers scored just 9 runs over the 4 games, and only JD and Yoenis Cespedes had over 3 hits in the series.

UP NEXT

The Tigers wrap-up the homestand against the Indians, whom they swept earlier this month in Cleveland.

Expected Starters:

Fri 4/24, 7:08 pm- Greene vs. Salazar

Sat 4/25, 7:08 pm- Simon vs. Bauer

Sun 4/26, 1:08 pm- Lobstein vs. Carrasco

BOX SCORE

