Game 90 - Sabathia Outduels Verlander

It seems rarely does a marquee matchup between 2 ace pitchers live up to the hype, but CC Sabathia and Justin Verlander hooked up for a pitching clinic in the Yankees 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. For 6 innings, the score remained at zeroes, as CC dodged a couple of threats by holding the Tigers hitless in 7 attempts with RISP. Verlander didn't have to work as hard, holding the Yankees to 0-3 with RISP, and at one point held the Yanks to 2 Derek Jeter singles till Johnny Damon doubled with 2 outs in the 6th.

In the bottom of 7th inning, ARod finally broke through, leading off with his 571st career HR, an opposite field fence scraper that must have made Verlander nauseous. He now trails Harmon Killebrew by 2 for 9th place on the all time list. The Yanks tacked on another run, piecing together 3 hits with 2 outs. Robinson Cano singled, Nick Swisher doubled and Melky Cabrera's infield single knocked in the important 2nd run. Alfredo Aceves, back in the bullpen after his abbreviated start in Minnesota, surrendered a solo shot to ex-Yank, Marcus Thames, in the top of the 8th. The great Mariano Rivera earned his second save in 2 days for his 25th of the season.

CC rebounded from his loss to Anaheim last Sunday to improve his record to 9-6. The Yanks improved to 4-1 on the season against first place Detroit, with Joba Chamberlain going against Edwin Jackson in the series finale. These wins should provide confidence to a team that has struggled against 1st place Boston, Philadelphia and Anaheim this season. Boston's lost to Toronto currently leaves the Yanks 2 games out in the AL East.

Yankees Record: 53-37