By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com NEW YORK -- CC Sabathia was supported by home runs from Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano in coasting to his American League-leading 16th victory as the Yankees defeated the Tigers, 6-2, on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Nick Swisher also had a two-run double to back Sabathia, who limited Detroit to two runs in seven innings and nudged past the Twins' Carl Pavano and the Rays' David Price to claim sole possession of the Junior Circuit wins lead. Winning his third straight start, Sabathia was bit only by the long ball, serving up a pair of solo home runs in his 115-pitch outing, scattering five hits and striking out nine while walking three. Austin Jackson teed off on Sabathia's first pitch of the evening for a leadoff blast, the second of the former Yankees prospect's big league career, and Brandon Inge belted a shot over the left-field wall in the seventh inning, Inge's eighth of the season. It was a rare power show against Sabathia, who had allowed just one homer in his last 13 starts, but the damage was minimal. Sabathia did bump into trouble in the seventh after Inge's homer, allowing a pinch-hit single to Alex Avila that drew manager Joe Girardi out for a chat. But with Sabathia at 111 pitches, Girardi liked what he heard and permitted Sabathia to stay in, and the left-hander rewarded his faith with a swinging strikeout of Jackson to end the inning. The Yankees touched Detroit starter Justin Verlander for three runs in five innings. Guarding a sore right elbow, Swisher opened the scoring in the first inning by punching a two-run hit the opposite way into left field, scoring Brett Gardner and Derek Jeter. Granderson tacked on a solo shot in the second inning, his 12th, before Verlander held the Yankees quiet for the remainder of his five-walk, five-strikeout outing. Cano struck for his 22nd home run in the seventh off left-hander Daniel Schlereth, a solo blast into the right-center-field seats. Ramiro Pena added a sacrifice fly later in that frame to give the Yankees a four-run cushion, a run charged to Schlereth, as New York snapped a brief two-game losing skid.
