Solid day at the ballpark for Sabathia, #Yankees. pic.twitter.com/bBdI3TZs0r
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) April 9, 2016
After the New York Yankees were shutout in the first game of the series, they came back from the poor performance to defeat the Detroit Tigers in Game 2.
- New York Yankees: 8 (3-2)
- Detroit Tigers: 4 (3-1)
- American League, FINAL, box score
- Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
By Christian Kouroupakis
No one really knew what to expect from New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia.
With an un-favorable match-up against the right handed heavy Detroit Tigers lineup, his team wasn’t expecting much either.
However, Sabathia’s drive mixed in with his competitive spirit proved that the big boy isn’t done yet. The 35-year old lefty hurled six innings of three run ball while striking out three in his first outing, and victory, of 2016.
CC is also the first starting pitcher this season to last six innings in a start for the Yankees.
This wasn’t your vintage CC Sabathia, but it seems as though he has reinvented himself by using a mixture of his cut fastball and change up in order to hit the corners of the plate.
As a result, three batters were walked, but not a single home run was surrendered which was one of Sabathia’s struggles in 2015 (gave up 28).
A great season debut for @CC_Sabathia: 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 3 Ks pic.twitter.com/LSwCVoAClF
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 9, 2016
In addition to a beautiful performance by Sabathia, the Yankee offense resurrected itself after looking like a corpse in yesterday’s shutout loss.
It all started in the top of the first when Alex Rodriguez took a 3-2 fastball from Mike Pelfrey and smashed it over the furthest wall in the ballpark, giving New York a 1-0 lead.
It’s an A-Bomb, from #ARod…his first of the brand-spanking new campaign. #Yankeeshttps://t.co/i23HZfm5jf
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) April 9, 2016
The Yankees went into the fourth inning with a 2-0 lead, and loaded the bases with two outs for Jacoby Ellsbury.
The Yankee center fielder ripped a three-run triple into right center gap that cleared the bases and broke the ballgame open by making it 6-0 Yankees.
A 3-run triple for @JacobyEllsbury gives the Yankees a 6-0 lead in the 4th! #PinstripePride
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 9, 2016
The next inning, after the Tigers bit back with two runs, with Brian McCann on first with one out, Carlos Beltran cranked a long home run into the seats in right to get those runs back and make it 8-2 New York.
Another homer! This time it's @carlosbeltran15 with a 2-run blast! #PinstripePride
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 9, 2016
Those eight runs would prove to be enough, as Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller finished off the Tigers in the eighth and ninth inning to secure an 8-4 victory.
FINAL: #Yankees 8, Tigers 4. #StartSpreadingTheNews pic.twitter.com/pQ2V3tjwc9
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 9, 2016
While the offense was dominant, the highlight of the contest was Starlin Castro recording career hit number 1,000 at just 26-years of age. He smacked a single off of Logan Kensing to reach the milestone.
How great is that? Derek Jeter was also 26 when he reached the landmark.
That's 1,000 career hits for Starlin Castro! #PinstripePride pic.twitter.com/MiaOJQsm6n
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 9, 2016
The Yankee offense was definitely the deciding factor, as the team collected 14 hits, five of them with runners in scoring position.
Ronald Torreyes went 3-for-4 with a run scored, Beltran went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI, and McCann went 2-for-4 with three runs scored to lead the offense.
The Bronx Bombers have scored 35 runs through the first five games of 2016, averaging seven runs per game for this juggernaut offense.
The Yankees hope to carry the production into Sunday night, as they have to go up against a familiar foe, Justin Verlander.
Against New York, Verlander is 5-7 record with a 4.03 ERA. He has not beaten the Yankees since August 6th of 2012.
Masahiro Tanaka takes the mound for the Yankees and first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 PM ET, broadcasted nationally on ESPN. The weather may get in the way, as the Detroit area is expected to get hit with a mixture of rain and snow.
