Verlander outduels CC to take series

The Tigers (20-15) shut out the Yankees (22-12) once again, 6-0, as Justin Verlander and the bullpen sent the Bronx Bombers back to New York with just their second lost series.

Quick ‘Cap:
The Yankees collected just four hits on the 50-degree, wet day. CC Sabathia allowed one run in the second, two in the fourth and three in the sixth, while Verlander posted zeroes through 6 2/3 innings. Joel Zumaya and Eddie Bonine combined to shut down the Yankees the rest of the way.

Jorge Posada was the only Yankee with a multi-hit game, but he, along with every other Yankee, never made it past second base. Pitching prospect Ivan Nova made his major league debut in relief of Sabathia, pitching two scoreless innings. Yankees-Tigers box score.

Thoughts:
Uh oh. Where’d the offense go? I didn’t think the team would miss Nick Johnson and Curtis Granderson that much because of how great their pitching has been, but maybe they do. Or, maybe they just didn’t like the cold, mucky weather in Detroit.

Line of the Day:
Alex Rodriguez: 0-for-4. He’s down to .272/.361/.440. At some point, he’s going to go on a tear. The question is when.

Up Next:
Home sweet home at last. The Yankees will start their seven-game homestand with the first-place Twins over the weekend. (It was this same series last year when the Yanks had three walk-off wins in a row.)