GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: DETROIT (66-54) at NY YANKEES (67-53)

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - PITCHING CHANGE
NYY: LUIS VIZCAINO (8-2, 3.86) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 8, NY YANKEES 3

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: G SHEFFIELD (.283, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: L Vizcaino relieved R Villone.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 8
NY YANKEES 3 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: G Sheffield (.283, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 4 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 8 10 0
NY YANKEES 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 9 1 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - FERNANDO RODNEY
NYY - LUIS VIZCAINO

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.327, 2-FOR-3, BB)
B ABREU (.279, 1-FOR-4, HR, 2 RBI)
A RODRIGUEZ (.305, 0-FOR-3, HBP)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">DETROIT (8) VS NY YANKEES (3) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 .293
M Thames lf 5 1 1 0 0 0 2 .255
G Sheffield dh 3 1 0 0 2 0 1 .282
M Ordonez rf 4 1 1 1 1 1 2 .356
C Guillen ss 5 2 2 4 0 1 2 .306
I Rodriguez c 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .280
S Casey 1b 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290
R Raburn 2b 4 1 1 0 0 2 2 .329
B Inge 3b 3 1 1 1 0 1 0 .241

Totals 37 8 10 8 3 6 9

BATTING: 2B - R Raburn (7, M Mussina). HR - C Guillen (15, 1st inning off M
Mussina 3 on, 1 Out), I Rodriguez (10, 7th inning off R Villone 0 on, 1 Out).
RBI - C Guillen 4 (78), B Inge (55), M Ordonez (109), S Casey (46), I Rodriguez
(51). 2-out RBI - M Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G
Sheffield 1, M Ordonez 1, C Guillen 1. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Inge (7, 2nd base off M Mussina/J Posada). CS - S Casey
(2, 2nd base by M Mussina/J Posada).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .259
a-S Duncan ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .310
b-W Betemit ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .231
D Jeter ss 3 2 2 0 1 0 1 .327
B Abreu rf 4 1 1 2 0 2 2 .279
A Rodriguez 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .305
H Matsui dh 4 0 2 1 0 1 1 .301
J Posada c 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .332
J Giambi 1b 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .269
R Cano 2b 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .308
M Cabrera cf 3 0 1 0 1 1 2 .297

Totals 33 3 9 3 3 10 18

a-struck out swinging for J Damon in the 6th; b-struck out swinging for S
Duncan in the 8th.

BATTING: HR - B Abreu (13, 3rd inning off J Verlander 1 on, 0 Out). RBI - H
Matsui (82), B Abreu 2 (81). 2-out RBI - H Matsui. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - W Betemit 2, J Posada 1, S Duncan 1. Team LOB - 10.

FIELDING: E - A Rodriguez (10, ground ball). DP: 1 (J Posada-R Cano).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 420 010 100 -- 8
NY YANKEES - 102 000 00 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander 5 1/3 7 3 3 1 2 1 3.63
T Byrdak 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.34
Z Miner 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 4 0 3.45
F Rodney 1 1 0 0 1 3 0 4.46

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 5 9 7 6 2 2 1 4.76
K Farnsworth 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4.56
R Villone 2 1 1 1 0 3 1 3.47
L Vizcaino 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.79

WP - J Verlander, F Rodney. HBP - A Rodriguez (by J Verlander); B Inge (by K
Farnsworth). Pitches-strikes: J Verlander 119-74; T Byrdak 7-6; Z Miner 25-14;
F Rodney 21-12; M Mussina 95-61; K Farnsworth 12-7; R Villone 23-18; L Vizcaino
14-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Verlander 5-9; T Byrdak 0-0; Z Miner 0-0; F
Rodney 0-0; M Mussina 4-8; K Farnsworth 2-1; R Villone 1-2; L Vizcaino 0-2.
Batters faced: J Verlander 25; T Byrdak 2; Z Miner 5; F Rodney 5; M Mussina 26;
K Farnsworth 5; R Villone 7; L Vizcaino 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Winters. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner.

Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - PITCHING CHANGE
DET: TODD JONES (1-4, 4.38) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 8, NY YANKEES 3

DUE UP FOR NYYANKEES: D JETER (.327, 2-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: T Jones relieved F Rodney.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 8
NY YANKEES 3 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D Jeter (.327, 2-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY HIDEKI MATSUI SCORED BOBBY ABREU.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, H MATSUI ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 8
NY YANKEES 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.332, 1-FOR-4)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JORGE POSADA SCORED HIDEKI MATSUI.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J POSADA ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 8
NY YANKEES 5 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.269, 1-FOR-4)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 4 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 8 10 0
NY YANKEES 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 12 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER, TIM BYRDAK (6TH), ZACH MINER (6TH), FERNANDO
RODNEY (8TH), TODD JONES (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

NYY - MIKE MUSSINA, KYLE FARNSWORTH (6TH), RON VILLONE
(7TH), LUIS VIZCAINO (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

HOME RUNS: DET - CARLOS GUILLEN (15) OFF MIKE MUSSINA IN THE 1ST, 3 ON
IVAN RODRIGUEZ (10) OFF RON VILLONE IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

NYY - BOBBY ABREU (13) OFF JUSTIN VERLANDER IN THE 3RD, 1 ON</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 4 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 8 10 0
NY YANKEES 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 12 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER, TIM BYRDAK (6TH), ZACH MINER (6TH), FERNANDO
RODNEY (8TH), TODD JONES (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

NYY - MIKE MUSSINA, KYLE FARNSWORTH (6TH), RON VILLONE
(7TH), LUIS VIZCAINO (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA


WP - JUSTIN VERLANDER (13-4)
LP - MIKE MUSSINA (8-8)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: DET - CARLOS GUILLEN (15) OFF MIKE MUSSINA IN THE 1ST, 3 ON
IVAN RODRIGUEZ (10) OFF RON VILLONE IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

NYY - BOBBY ABREU (13) OFF JUSTIN VERLANDER IN THE 3RD, 1 ON


TIME: 3:30 ATT: 53,914

PROBABLES: DET - NATE ROBERTSON (7-9, 5.01)
NYY - ANDY PETTITTE (9-7, 3.93)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">DETROIT (8) VS NY YANKEES (5) - FINAL

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 .293
M Thames lf 5 1 1 0 0 0 2 .255
G Sheffield dh 3 1 0 0 2 0 1 .282
M Ordonez rf 4 1 1 1 1 1 2 .356
C Guillen ss 5 2 2 4 0 1 2 .306
I Rodriguez c 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .280
S Casey 1b 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290
R Raburn 2b 4 1 1 0 0 2 2 .329
B Inge 3b 3 1 1 1 0 1 0 .241

Totals 37 8 10 8 3 6 9

BATTING: 2B - R Raburn (7, M Mussina). HR - C Guillen (15, 1st inning off M
Mussina 3 on, 1 Out), I Rodriguez (10, 7th inning off R Villone 0 on, 1 Out).
RBI - C Guillen 4 (78), B Inge (55), M Ordonez (109), S Casey (46), I Rodriguez
(51). 2-out RBI - M Ordonez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G
Sheffield 1, M Ordonez 1, C Guillen 1. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Inge (7, 2nd base off M Mussina/J Posada). CS - S Casey
(2, 2nd base by M Mussina/J Posada).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .259
a-S Duncan ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .310
b-W Betemit ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .231
D Jeter ss 4 2 2 0 1 0 1 .326
B Abreu rf 5 2 2 2 0 2 2 .281
A Rodriguez 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .305
H Matsui dh 5 1 3 2 0 1 1 .303
J Posada c 5 0 2 1 0 0 3 .334
J Giambi 1b 5 0 1 0 0 3 3 .268
R Cano 2b 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .308
M Cabrera cf 3 0 1 0 1 1 2 .297

Totals 39 5 12 5 3 11 19

a-struck out swinging for J Damon in the 6th; b-struck out swinging for S
Duncan in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - H Matsui (23, T Jones). HR - B Abreu (13, 3rd inning off J
Verlander 1 on, 0 Out). RBI - H Matsui 2 (83), B Abreu 2 (81), J Posada (69).
2-out RBI - H Matsui 2, J Posada. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W
Betemit 2, J Posada 1, S Duncan 1. Team LOB - 11.

FIELDING: E - A Rodriguez (10, ground ball). DP: 1 (J Posada-R Cano).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 420 010 100 -- 8
NY YANKEES - 102 000 002 -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Verlander (W, 13-4) 5 1/3 7 3 3 1 2 1 3.63
T Byrdak 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.34
Z Miner (H, 8) 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 4 0 3.45
F Rodney 1 1 0 0 1 3 0 4.46
T Jones 1 3 2 2 0 1 0 4.65

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina (L, 8-8) 5 9 7 6 2 2 1 4.76
K Farnsworth 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4.56
R Villone 2 1 1 1 0 3 1 3.47
L Vizcaino 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.79

WP - J Verlander, F Rodney. HBP - A Rodriguez (by J Verlander); B Inge (by K
Farnsworth). Pitches-strikes: J Verlander 119-74; T Byrdak 7-6; Z Miner 25-14;
F Rodney 21-12; T Jones 22-15; M Mussina 95-61; K Farnsworth 12-7; R Villone
23-18; L Vizcaino 14-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Verlander 5-9; T Byrdak 0-0;
Z Miner 0-0; F Rodney 0-0; T Jones 1-1; M Mussina 4-8; K Farnsworth 2-1; R
Villone 1-2; L Vizcaino 0-2. Batters faced: J Verlander 25; T Byrdak 2; Z Miner
5; F Rodney 5; T Jones 6; M Mussina 26; K Farnsworth 5; R Villone 7; L Vizcaino
3.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Winters. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner.

T--3:30. Att--53,914.
Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in
from center.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
DETROIT 8
NY YANKEES 5 FINAL</div>

 

Guillen's grand slam in first leads Tigers past Yankees

<h3>DETROIT 8, NY YANKEES 5</h3>By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- While it was not quite theplayoff-charged environment of October, it was certainly afamiliar sight when Carlos Guillen homered off Mike Mussina.

Guillen hit a grand slam off Mussina with one out in the top ofthe first inning as the Detroit Tigers recorded an 8-5 victoryover the New York Yankees on Thursday.


The opener of the four-game series marked the first meetingbetween the teams since the American League Division Series. TheTigers won that series in four games after losing the seriesopener, swept Oakland in the ALCS before falling in five gamesto St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.


The turning point of that series might have been Game Two, whichwas an afternoon game following a lengthy rain delay thatcaused a postponement. The Yankees opened a 3-1 lead butMussina gave up a game-tying home run in the sixth to Guillen,<div class="pre">the Tigers eventually won by one run and easily won their two</div>games at Comerica Park to clinch the series.


Unlike their first postseason victory since 1987, the Tigers didnot have to worry about a comeback in this one.


After Mussina (8-8) recorded the first out, the next threehitters reached ahead of Guillen, who then hit Mussina's 2-2offering into the right field seats for his 15th home run andthird career grand slam.


It also was Guillen's second grand slam at Yankee Stadium. Healso hit one here on August 7, 2000 off Denny Neagle for theSeattle Mariners.


Detroit posted its major league-leading 37th road win and wonfor just the seventh time in its last 20 contests. The Tigerstook a 6-1 lead on RBI singles by Brandon Inge and MagglioOrdonez in the second before adding a run in the fifth on arun-scoring base hit by Sean Casey.


The Tigers added an insurance run in the seventh when IvanRodriguez homered off Ron Villone.


In the opener of a difficult 14-game stretch against the Tigers,Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox, the Yankees received asub-par outing from Mussina, who was reached for seven runs andnine hits in five innings.


Mussina had won his last four starts but equaled a season highin runs and lost for the first time since July 20 against TampaBay.


Detroit starter Justin Verlander (13-4), who opposed Mussina inthe playoffs, lasted 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs andsix hits. He struck out two, walked one and threw 74 of his 119pitches for strikes.


Verlander's night ended with one out in the sixth after he gaveup a single to Jason Giambi. Tim Byrdak gave up a two-outsingle to Melky Cabrera and was replaced by Zach Minor whenShelley Duncan was announced as a pinch hitter for Johnny Damon.

Minor fanned Duncan and also struck out the side in the seventh.Fernando Rodney put two on in the eighth but also struck outthe side and Todd Jones yielded two runs in the ninth forDetroit, which moved one half game ahead of Cleveland in the ALCentral.


Bobby Abreu hit a two-run home run in the third for the Yankees,who have lost three in a row for the first time in nearly twomonths. New York has been outscored 26-7 in its last threegames and is one half-game behind Seattle in the wild card raceand 5 1/2 behind Boston in the AL East.

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (8) AT NY YANKEES (5) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DETROIT 1ST: C Granderson flied out to center. M Thames singled to left.
G Sheffield safe at first on error by third baseman A Rodriguez, M Thames to
second. M Ordonez walked, M Thames to third, G Sheffield to second. C Guillen
homered to right, M Thames, G Sheffield and M Ordonez scored. I Rodriguez
struck out swinging. S Casey grounded out to second. (4 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error)
DETROIT 4, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon flied out to center. D Jeter singled to center.
B Abreu struck out looking. D Jeter to second on wild pitch by J Verlander.
A Rodriguez hit by pitch. H Matsui singled to left, D Jeter scored, A Rodriguez
to second. J Posada grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT
4, NY YANKEES 1.

DETROIT 2ND: R Raburn doubled to deep right center. B Inge singled to
left, R Raburn scored. B Inge stole second. C Granderson flied out to right,
B Inge to third. M Thames lined out to third. G Sheffield walked. M Ordonez
singled to center, B Inge scored, G Sheffield to second. C Guillen flied out
to left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 6, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 3RD: D Jeter singled to center. B Abreu homered to center,
D Jeter scored. A Rodriguez flied out to right. H Matsui singled to right
center. J Posada flied out to left. J Giambi struck out swinging. (2 Runs,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 6, NY YANKEES 3.

DETROIT 5TH: M Ordonez flied out to right. C Guillen singled to left
center. I Rodriguez singled to shallow right center, C Guillen to third.
S Casey singled to center, C Guillen scored, I Rodriguez to second. R Raburn
struck out looking. S Casey caught stealing second, catcher to second.(1 Run,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 7, NY YANKEES 3.

DETROIT 7TH: S Duncan in left field. R Villone relieved K Farnsworth.
C Guillen struck out swinging. I Rodriguez homered to left. S Casey flied out
to left. R Raburn struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 8,
NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 9TH: T Jones relieved F Rodney. D Jeter flied out to left.
B Abreu singled to center. A Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop, B Abreu to
second. H Matsui doubled to deep right, B Abreu scored. J Posada singled to
center, H Matsui scored. J Giambi struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 8, NY YANKEES 5.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (8) AT NY YANKEES (5) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Detroit Starting Lineups -- C Granderson CF, M Thames LF, G Sheffield DH,
M Ordonez RF, C Guillen SS, I Rodriguez C, S Casey 1B, R Raburn 2B, B Inge 3B,
J Verlander RHP.

Ny Yankees Starting Lineups -- J Damon LF, D Jeter SS, B Abreu RF, A Rodriguez 3B,
H Matsui DH, J Posada C, J Giambi 1B, R Cano 2B, M Cabrera CF, M Mussina RHP.

Umpires -- Mike Winters (HP), Adam Dowdy (1B), Brian Runge (2B), Mark Wegner (3B).

Gametime Weather: 84 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from center at 8 mph.


DETROIT 1ST: C Granderson flied out to center. M Thames singled to left.
G Sheffield safe at first on error by third baseman A Rodriguez, M Thames to
second. M Ordonez walked, M Thames to third, G Sheffield to second. C Guillen
homered to right, M Thames, G Sheffield and M Ordonez scored. I Rodriguez
struck out swinging. S Casey grounded out to second. (4 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error)
DETROIT 4, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon flied out to center. D Jeter singled to center.
B Abreu struck out looking. D Jeter to second on wild pitch by J Verlander.
A Rodriguez hit by pitch. H Matsui singled to left, D Jeter scored, A Rodriguez
to second. J Posada grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 4,
NY YANKEES 1.

DETROIT 2ND: R Raburn doubled to deep right center. B Inge singled to
left, R Raburn scored. B Inge stole second. C Granderson flied out to right,
B Inge to third. M Thames lined out to third. G Sheffield walked. M Ordonez
singled to center, B Inge scored, G Sheffield to second. C Guillen flied out
to left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 6, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 2ND: J Giambi flied out to center. R Cano lined out to left.
M Cabrera walked. J Damon flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 6, NY YANKEES 1.

DETROIT 3RD: I Rodriguez grounded out to second. S Casey fouled out to
left. R Raburn flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 6,
NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 3RD: D Jeter singled to center. B Abreu homered to center,
D Jeter scored. A Rodriguez flied out to right. H Matsui singled to right
center. J Posada flied out to left. J Giambi struck out swinging. (2 Runs,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 6, NY YANKEES 3.

DETROIT 4TH: B Inge flied out to right. C Granderson singled to center.
M Thames grounded out to first, C Granderson to second. G Sheffield grounded out
to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 6, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 4TH: R Cano grounded out to second. M Cabrera flied out to
center. J Damon singled to right center. D Jeter grounded into fielder's
choice to third, J Damon out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 6,
NY YANKEES 3.

DETROIT 5TH: M Ordonez flied out to right. C Guillen singled to left
center. I Rodriguez singled to shallow right center, C Guillen to third.
S Casey singled to center, C Guillen scored, I Rodriguez to second. R Raburn
struck out looking. S Casey caught stealing second, catcher to second.(1 Run,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 7, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 5TH: B Abreu grounded out to shortstop. A Rodriguez grounded
out to third. H Matsui flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 7,
NY YANKEES 3.

DETROIT 6TH: K Farnsworth relieved M Mussina. B Inge hit by pitch.
C Granderson grounded out to second, B Inge to second. M Thames grounded out to
third. G Sheffield walked. M Ordonez flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 7, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 6TH: J Posada flied out to center. J Giambi singled to right.
T Byrdak relieved J Verlander. R Cano struck out looking. M Cabrera singled to
right, J Giambi to second. S Duncan hit for J Damon. Z Miner relieved
T Byrdak. S Duncan struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 7,
NY YANKEES 3.

DETROIT 7TH: S Duncan in left field. R Villone relieved K Farnsworth.
C Guillen struck out swinging. I Rodriguez homered to left. S Casey flied out
to left. R Raburn struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 8,
NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 7TH: D Jeter walked. B Abreu struck out swinging. A Rodriguez
struck out looking. H Matsui struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 8, NY YANKEES 3.

DETROIT 8TH: B Inge struck out swinging. C Granderson fouled out to
catcher. M Thames grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 8, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 8TH: F Rodney relieved Z Miner. J Posada singled to center.
J Giambi struck out swinging. R Cano walked, J Posada to second. M Cabrera
struck out swinging. W Betemit hit for S Duncan. J Posada to third, R Cano to
second on wild pitch by F Rodney. W Betemit struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 8, NY YANKEES 3.

DETROIT 9TH: W Betemit in left field. L Vizcaino relieved R Villone.
G Sheffield flied out to left. M Ordonez struck out swinging. C Guillen flied
out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 8, NY YANKEES 3.

NY YANKEES 9TH: T Jones relieved F Rodney. D Jeter flied out to left.
B Abreu singled to center. A Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop, B Abreu to
second. H Matsui doubled to deep right, B Abreu scored. J Posada singled to
center, H Matsui scored. J Giambi struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 8, NY YANKEES 5.</div>

 

Guillen's grand slam in first leads Tigers past Yankees

<h3>DETROIT 8, NY YANKEES 5</h3>By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- While it was not quite theplayoff-charged environment of October, it was certainly afamiliar sight when Carlos Guillen homered off Mike Mussina.

Guillen hit a grand slam off Mussina with one out in the top ofthe first inning as the Detroit Tigers recorded an 8-5 victoryover the New York Yankees on Thursday.


"Every game is big for us," said Guillen, who had been battlinga mild case of the flu this week. "I just tried to hit a ballhard and I hit a changeup. When I got two strikes, I just triedto put the ball in play."


The opener of the four-game series marked the first meetingbetween the teams since the American League Division Series. TheTigers won that series in four games after losing the seriesopener, swept Oakland in the ALCS before falling in five gamesto St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.


The turning point of that series might have been Game Two, whichwas an afternoon game following a lengthy rain delay thatcaused a postponement. The Yankees opened a 3-1 lead butMussina gave up a game-tying home run in the sixth to Guillen,<div class="pre">the Tigers eventually won by one run and easily won their two</div>games at Comerica Park to clinch the series.


Unlike their first postseason victory since 1987, the Tigers didnot have to worry about a comeback in this one.


After Mussina (8-8) recorded the first out, the next threehitters reached ahead of Guillen, who then hit Mussina's 2-2offering into the right field seats for his 15th home run andthird career grand slam.


"It did (remind me of the playoffs)," Tigers starter JustinVerlander said. "It was a good pitch and he put a good swing onit. But that's baseball. Hitters get paid to hit good pitchestoo."


It also was Guillen's second grand slam at Yankee Stadium andfirst home in 33 games. He also hit one here on August 7, 2000off Denny Neagle for the Seattle Mariners.


"We come out and got a big blow, which helps obviously," Detroitmanager Jim Leyland said. "You know you're going to have putup some runs when you play these guys."


"It was big," Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge said. "It wasbig just to (get four in the first). Anytime you get a 4-0 leadlike that off the bat is pretty good, especially in here.These guys are such a good team. They're capable of putting uphigh numbers at any point."


Detroit posted its major league-leading 37th road win and wonfor just the seventh time in its last 20 contests. The Tigerstook a 6-1 lead on RBI singles by Brandon Inge and MagglioOrdonez in the second before adding a run in the fifth on arun-scoring base hit by Sean Casey.


The Tigers added an insurance run in the seventh when IvanRodriguez homered off Ron Villone.


In the opener of a difficult 14-game stretch against the Tigers,Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox, the Yankees received asub-par outing from Mussina, who was reached for seven runs andnine hits in five innings.


"He just looked like he wasn't able to do what he wanted to doand it looked like he was trying to make pitches," Torre said."They're a tough team to pitch to and he just got bad counts.First inning, a lot of bad counts and I think that was hisundoing."


Mussina had won his last four starts but equaled a season highin runs and lost for the first time since July 20 against TampaBay.


"It was a struggle from the beginning and kind of makes whatI've done over the last couple of weeks seem a long time ago,"Mussina said. "I only get out there every fifth game or so and Ihave to do my job when it's my turn to play. And today Ididn't do that and that's frustrating."


Verlander (13-4), who opposed Mussina in the playoffs, lasted 51/3 innings and allowed three runs and six hits. He struck outtwo, walked one and threw 74 of his 119 pitches for strikes.

Verlander finished with second-highest pitch count of theseason, one shy of his season high set in Boston on May 15 whenhe pitched 7 2/3 frames. He did all of that despite being one ofmany Tigers to still be battling the flu.


"Obviously I would have liked to gone a little deeper,"Verlander said. "But you got to credit the Yankees, they've gota good lineup and they got some guys that are battling andfouling off some good pitches."


"He had been sick, his body was aching a little bit lately,"Leyland said. "I think his pitch count got up there and hecouldn't go anymore. His arm felt great but his body was alittle sore."


Verlander's night ended with one out in the sixth after he gaveup a single to Jason Giambi. Tim Byrdak gave up a two-outsingle to Melky Cabrera and was replaced by Zach Minor whenShelley Duncan was announced as a pinch hitter for Johnny Damon.

Minor, who also was battling the flu, fanned Duncan and alsostruck out the side in the seventh. Fernando Rodney put two onin the eighth but also struck out the side and Todd Jonesyielded two runs in the ninth for Detroit, which moved one halfgame ahead of Cleveland in the AL Central.


Bobby Abreu hit a two-run home run in the third for the Yankees,who have lost three in a row for the first time in nearly twomonths. New York has been outscored 26-8 in its last threegames and is one half-game behind Seattle in the wild card raceand 5 1/2 behind Boston in the AL East.


The series opener marked the return of Detroit designated hitterGary Sheffield. Sheffield was traded to the Tigers in theoffseason, made some controversial comments about Torre and wasbooed loudly in each of his five plate appearances.