SPORTS

Live blog: Yankees down Tigers 13-4 in series opener

Connor Muldowney
The Detroit News

The Tigers were unable to ride the high of beating the Dodgers on Sunday, dropping the opener of a three-game series against the Yankees Tuesday in Detroit, 13-4.

New York jumped on Tigers starter Matthew Boyd early, scoring three in the first inning. He would be knocked out of the game with one out in the third after the Yankees extended the lead.

Boyd (2 1/3 innings) failed to record a quality start yet again. In fact, his last quality start came on July 29. He surrendered seven earned runs on seven hits and three walks. He clearly didn't have his best stuff.

The Yankees would race out to a 7-0 lead before Ian Kinsler's third-inning RBI double to center put the Tigers on the board.

Gary Sanchez had a pair of two-run home runs and Aaron Hicks clobbered one as well for the Yankees. They would finish with 16 hits as a team.

Masahiro Tanaka went seven full innings for the Yankees, holding the Tigers' offense in check. He allowed three earned runs on six hits and struck out four.

Nick Castellanos accounted for most of the offense thanks to a two-run homer in the seventh and an inside-the-park solo home run in the ninth. Jose Iglesias finished 2-for-3.

Jordan Zimmermann (7-10, 5.87 ERA) will take the mound on Wednesday evening, facing off against Yankees' ace Luis Severino (10-5, 3.18).

Bottom 9th: Yankees 13, Tigers 4

JaCoby Jones kicked off the home half by flying out to right. John Hicks struck out swinging.

Nick Castellanos provided the most excitement of the night for Tigers fans, hitting an inside-the-park homer to center. Andrew Romine flew out to deep left to end the game.

Top 9th: Yankees 13, Tigers 3

Jeff Ferrell entered the game in relief for the Tigers.

Tyler Wade legged out an infield single to short as a pinch-hitter for Ronald Torreyes. Brett Gardner then flew out to center. Aaron Hicks followed that up with a fly out to right before Gary Sanchez clobbered his second two-run homer of the game. This time, he hit it to right field.

Jacoby Ellsbury flew out to center to end the Yankees' half.

Bottom 8th: Yankees 11, Tigers 3

Chasen Shreve relieved Yankees' starter Masahiro Tanaka in the eighth.

Alex Presley struck out swinging. Jose Iglesias then doubled down to the left field corner with one out. Dixon Machado then flew out to shallow right field. Mikie Mahtook struck out swinging to end the eighth.

Top 8th: Yankees 11, Tigers 3

Joe Jimenez entered the game in relief. Dixon Machado replaced Ian Kinsler at second and JaCoby Jones moved to center, pushing Mikie Mahtook to left.

Tyler Austin grounded out to short, Chase Headley flew out to left and Todd Frazier struck out swinging.

Bottom 7th: Yankees 11, Tigers 3

Recently recalled from Triple-A Toledo, JaCoby Jones pinch-hit for Justin Upton to lead off the seventh. He grounded out right back to the mound. John Hicks then entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Miguel Cabrera and doubled to left.

Nick Castellanos drove Hicks in with a two-run homer just over the right field wall. Andrew Romine then slapped a single down the left field line, but was thrown out by Brett Gardner trying to stretch it into a double. James MCCann ended the inning with a groundout to third.

Top 7th: Yankees 11, Tigers 1

Brett Gardner led off the seventh with a triple to right center against Drew VerHagen. Aaron Hicks then launched a two-run homer over the right field wall.

The next batter, Gary Sanchez, struck out swinging. Jacoby Ellsbury pinch-hit for Aaron Judge and grounded out back to the pitcher. Didi Gregorius then flew out to left center.

Bottom 6th: Yankees 9, Tigers 1

Jose Iglesias started the home half of the sixth by legging out an infield single. Ian Kinsler promptly hit into a double play. Mikie Mahtook then flew out harmlessly to right.

Top 6th: Yankees 9, Tigers 1

Drew VerHagen took the mound for the Tigers in the sixth.

Tyler Austin struck out swinging and Chase Headley grounded out to first before Todd Frazier singled to center. Ronald Torreyes flew out to left.

Bottom 5th: Yankees 9, Tigers 1

Victor Martinez went down without a fight to start the home half of the fifth, striking out looking. James McCann flew out to center. Alex Presley ended the quiet inning with a flyout to right.

Top 5th: Yankees 9, Tigers 1

With 30 pitches under his belt, Warwick Saupold remained in the game.

Todd Frazier then hit a soft liner to left for a single. Ronald Torreyes followed that up with a single of his own to left. Brett Gardner grounded into a force out as Torreyes was forced out at second. With runners at first and third, Aaron Hicks grounded to first, but Miguel Cabrera couldn't handle it cleanly.

Gary Sanchez struck out swinging. Aaron Judge singled to left, scoring Gardner and ending Saupold's day.

Drew VerHagen entered the game with two outs in the fifth. Didi Gregorius grounded out to second to end the long top half.

Bottom 4th: Yankees 7, Tigers 1

Justin Upton led off the home half of the fourth with a swinging strikeout. The next batter, Miguel Cabrera, also struck out swinging. Nick Castellanos was played perfectly by the Yankees' defense on a grounder to the middle of the infield and he was subsequently thrown out at first.

Top 4th: Yankees 7, Tigers 1

Warwick Saupold remained in the game for the Tigers.

After working a 2-0 count, Aaron Hicks swung at the third pitch and flew out to left. Gary Sanchez then lofted a soft single to center field. Aaron Judge then walked, for the third time, after working a full-count.

Didi Gregorius struck out swinging. Tyler Austin then drew a walk to load the bases. Chase Headley nearly hit a grand slam, driving Justin Upton back to the wall to make the catch for the final out.

Bottom 3rd: Yankees 7, Tigers 1

James McCann finally got the Tigers into the hit column with a leadoff single to center. Alex Presley then lined out to right field.

Jose Iglesias lined out sharply to second. Ian Kinsler drove McCann in with a double to deep center, giving the Tigers their first run. Mikie Mahtook ended the inning with a flyout to shallow right field.

New York Yankees' Gary Sanchez, right, is congratulated by Aaron Hicks (31) after they scored on Sanchez's two-run home run during the first inning.

Top 3rd: Yankees 7, Tigers 0

After falling behind in the count 3-0 to Aaron Judge, Matthew Boyd worked it back full before walking him to start the inning. Didi Gregorius hit a grounder back to the mound, but Boyd mishandled it, allowing him to reach first.

Tyler Austin then singled to left, scoring Judge. Chase Headley was responsible for the first out of the inning on a fly ball straight at Mikie Mahtook in center.

Todd Frazier smacked a triple into the right field corner, plating both baserunners. That ended Boyd's day.

Warwick Saupold entered the game in long relief. Ronald Torreyes hit a sacrifice fly to right and Brett Gardner lined out softly to third.

Bottom 2nd: Yankees 3, Tigers 0

Miguel Cabrera led off with a soft fly ball to right for the first out. Nick Castellanos also hit a soft fly ball, but his went to center for the second out. Victor Martinez struck out swinging to end the second.

Top 2nd: Yankees 3, Tigers 0

The Yankees picked up right where they left off in the first as Ronald Torreyes hit a leadoff single to center. However, that's all they would get. Brett Gardner grounded to second which resulted in a fielder's choice as Ian Kinsler got the force at second.

Aaron Hicks watched strike three for the second out and Gary Sanchez popped out to James McCann to end the inning

Bottom 1st: Yankees 3, Tigers 0

Ian Kinsler led off against Masahiro Tanaka with a lazy fly ball to left for the first out. Mikie Mahtook then grounded out to third and Justin Upton followed suit for the final out.

Top 1st: Yankees 3, Tigers 0

Matthew Boyd took the mound looking for his first quality start since the end of July.

Brett Gardner led things off with a hard-hit fly ball to right center, but Mikie Mahtook ran it down. Aaron Hicks then singled on a ground ball up the middle.

Gary Sanchez then hit a home run almost to the scoreboard behind the left-field seats. Following the two-run homer, Boyd walked Aaron Judge. Didi Gregorius then notched a one-out double. Judge was held at third.

Tyler Austin hit a sacrifice fly to center, driving in Judge. Chase Headley then walked on five pitches. Todd Frazier then struck out swinging.

Things don't get much easier for the Detroit Tigers.

Having just come off hosting a three-game series against baseball's best team in the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend, the Tigers open a three-game series Tuesday night against the New York Yankees, who are in the driver's seat for an American League wild-card spot. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m.

The Tigers rode Justin Verlander's right arm to a 6-1 victory Sunday, snapping a six-game losing streak that included the first two games of the series to the Dodgers. Next up are the Yankees, who are chasing the Boston Red Sox in the AL East, but are 2.5 games in front in the wild-card race. They also welcome back right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (8-10, 4.92 ERA), who is fresh off the disabled list with shoulder inflammation.

The Tigers counter with lefty Matthew Boyd (5-6, 5.70 ERA), whose last appearance was 1.1 innings of relief against the Dodgers. He's struggled in his past three starts, allowed 13 runs on 20 hits and eight walks in 14 innings.

YANKEES AT TIGERS

First pitch: 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, Comerica Park, Detroit

TV/radio: Fox Sports Detroit/97.1 FM

Records: The Tigers are 54-69, fourth place in the American League Central Division, 15 games behind the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees are 66-57, second place in the AL East, 4.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox and 2.5 games in front for a wild-card spot.

YANKEES LINEUP

1. Brett Gardner, LF

2. Aaron Hicks, CF

3. Gary Sanchez, C

4. Aaron Judge, RF

5. Didi Gregorius, SS

6. Tyler Austin, DH

7. Chase Headley, 1B

8. Todd Frazier, 3B

9. Ronald Torreyes, 2B

SP: Masahiro Tanaka, RHP

TIGERS LINEUP

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Mikie Mahtook, CF

3. Justin Upton, LF

4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

5. Nick Castellanos, 3B

6. Victor Martinez, DH

7. James McCann, C

8. Alex Presley, RF

9. Jose Iglesias, SS

SP: Matthew Boyd, LHP