New York Yankees 3 — Detroit Tigers 8
Prince Fielder drove in five with two home runs in today’s 8-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Ivan Nova got his first start of the season and struggled throughout his 4.2 innings. Nova struggled with first pitch strikes and efficient use of his pitches as he would leave with 96 pitches. In the first inning, two consecutive singles and an attempt at a double play would produce the first run of the game, taking 20 pitches to do so. A nine-pitch walk to outfielder Andy Dirks opened the second inning and he would score later in that inning with a two-out single. In the fifth inning, Nova would give up a single and a walk before inducing a double play. He was one pitch away from getting out Miguel Cabrera before hitting him with the pitch, his last of the game. In 4.2 innings, Nova gave up four runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Two of the runs scoring on the next batter faced.
Of the 21 batters Nova faced, eight of them got into at least a full count. Only seven of the 21 batters had a first-pitch strike, a terrible statistic to a good pitch count.
With Miguel Cabrera walked, Boone Logan, the only left-handed reliever in the bullpen, was called on to face Prince Fielder with two on and two out. Entering today, in five regular season at-bats vs. Logan, Prince Fielder was 1 for 5. On a 94-mph fastball up in the zone, Prince Fielder put a three-run home run on the scoreboard, changing a one-run lead for the Yankees into a two-run deficit. Getting just one out, Logan gave up one run on the Fielder home run as he inherited two from Nova.
Shawn Kelley would not fair as well in his relief appearance. In two innings of work, Kelley would give up three runs on two home runs, one by Alex Avila and Prince Fielder, his second of the game. Prince Fielder drove in five runs with his two home runs in today’s game.
The Yankees lone offensive outburst came in the fifth inning. Chris Stewart got a single to start the inning, was replaced on the bases by Brett Gardner in a force out and Robinson Cano would get a single to put two on in front of Kevin Youkilis. The first run would score on a wild pitch and Youkilis would tee off on a 3-1 fastball, putting it in left center field for his first home run of the season. This gave the Yankees their first (and only) lead of the game but it would be erased in the bottom half of the inning.
In the fourth inning, Nunez was hit by a pitch in the right bicep that forced him to exit the game. It would later be revealed to be a right bicep injury and is going to be listed as day-to-day.
Win – Doug Fister (1-0)
Loss – Ivan Nova (0-1)
Save – Drew Smyly (1)
Notables
Yankees
*Kevin Youkilis – 2 for 4, R, 2-Run Home Run (1) in the 4th, 2 RBI (2)
*Robinson Cano – 1 for 4, R
Tigers
*Prince Fielder – 2 for 4, 2 R, 2 HR (2; 3-Run & 2-Run) in the 5th & 7th, 5 RBI (6)
*Omar Infante – 2 for 4, R, RBI (1)
Current Yankees Record: 1-3
