Sweep…Sweep…Sweep

The Tigers swept the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium for the first time since the beginning of the 1966 season when they won the opener on April 12 and swept a doubleheader on April 14. The Yankees returned the favor in the Bronx from August 26 – 28 of that year. The Tigers will never be swept again — or lose for that matter — in the regular season in this edition of Yankee Stadium.

Nate Robertson had a rough first inning by giving up three runs on a home run by Bobby Abreu. He did settle down and gave up a total of four runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked two to get his first win of the year. 

The Tiger bats did the rest as Magglio Ordonez hit a double and a single to drive in three runs. Miguel Cabrera added a couple of RBI with a triple and a home run, and Ramon Santiago hit a double and had a two-run triple.

The Tigers got their first look at Francisco Cruceta who came on the ninth and gave up a lead-off walk to Bobby Abreu, but really encountered no further trouble. He got a hard hit ball which Carlos Guillen stopped and threw to second to force Abreu, and he got a ground ball to first and a line out to left which Ryan Raburn caught to end the game.

This was a great series to watch, and the Tigers find themselves tied for second in the Central with Cleveland and Minnesota just 1-1/2 games back of the White Sox. Now we’ll see if they can do some damage to put some distance between themselves and the Twins.