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 Detroit took a step in the right direction Tuesday night when
right-hander Rick Porcello reached 15 victories for the first time
in his six-year career and J.D. Martinez had three hits good for
three runs in a 5-2 Tigers' victory over the Yankees.
"We've got to find a way to win a game Wednesday," Yankees manager
Joe Girardi said. "We've got to stop it (losing) right now. And
we're facing a good pitcher (lefty David Price)."
Detroit won its third in a row while stopping a five-game New York
winning streak. The Yankees are three games behind the Tigers and
the Seattle Mariners, who are tied for the second wild card spot.
"I'm well aware of the Yankees' involvement in the wild card race,"
Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "I think any time the Yankees and
the Tigers get together it seems to be a semi-big series at the bare
minimum."
The first eight outs recorded by Porcello (15-8) came on ground
balls, and although he allowed nine hits the right-hander had two
runners on just once -- singles in the fourth separated by an out --
and escaped that jam unscathed with a force-out and fly ball out.
The runs he allowed came on solo home runs by center fielder Jacoby
Ellsbury, who now has 15. Ellsbury is also 11-for-17 against
Porcello with four homers.
"A lot of guys have a lot of hits off me," Porcello deadpanned.
Porcello was coming off a three-hit shutout in his previous start.
He didn't walk a batter and struck out two. He also threw two double
play balls, upping his total to 28 this season.
Left fielder J.D. Martinez singled and scored on a bases-loaded walk
that right-hander Brandon McCarthy (5-3 with New York, 8-13 overall)
issued in the second. His RBI single in the third made it 2-0, and
he doubled and scored in Detroit's two-run sixth.
Right fielder Torii Hunter added an RBI single in the seventh.
"The runs were because I wasn't in a groove," McCarthy said. "I
wasn't sharp from the get-go.
It was one of those days where you don't feel as good, where the
ball isn't going where it's supposed to go.
"It stinks because as you get closer to the end (of the season), the
games become more important."
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Joe Nathan pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 28th save, possibly
buoyed by "Let's Go Joe" chants. Nathan gave Tigers' fans a nasty couple
of chin-flicks (an obscene gesture in some parts of the world) when he
was finished with a less-than-perfect recent outing.
Porcello professed not to be concerned about his win total.
"I'm happy to be able to go out there and contribute," he said. "It's a
great atmosphere. There was a lot of excitement.
"The playoffs are the most important thing right now. Personal success
comes from team success."
"He did a real good job," Ausmus said. "I think from the get-go his
sinker was down, which is always the key for him.
"He's really come a long way in terms of getting left-handed hitters
out, which helps against this lineup. Because obviously with their
switch hitters, left-handed bats, there's not many righties.
"I think (shortstop Derek) Jeter and (second baseman Martin) Prado might
have been the only righties in the lineup. He's done an excellent job
all year, and this is another excellent game."
NOTES: Derek Jeter was in New York's lineup as the designated hitter for
the eighth time this season. "My job is to show up every day and play,"
he said. ... Tigers RHP Anibal Sanchez, on the disabled list since Aug.
9, experienced a setback Monday when he felt strain in his right
pectoral muscle while throwing off flat ground. Sanchez was apprehensive
about pitching again but reported feeling better Tuesday. ... Yankees LF
Brett Gardner was out of the lineup for a third consecutive game due to
a bruised right ankle. ... 1B Miguel Cabrera returned to the lineup
after missing the Tigers' previous game (Sunday) with a right ankle
sprain.
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