Avila's 2-Out Hit In 9th Lifts Tigers Over Yanks
NOAH TRISTER, AP Baseball Writer
DETROIT (AP) — Alex Avila hit an RBI single off the wall in right field with two out in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Detroit Tigers a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Thursday.
A day after David Price gave up nine straight hits, the Tigers sent Kyle Lobstein to the mound for his first major league start. The rookie performed well, allowing one earned run in six innings.
Then Detroit's bullpen held off New York until the Tigers scored in the ninth off Shawn Kelley (2-5). Victor Martinez led off with a double through a shifted infield, then Kelley walked J.D. Martinez before striking out Nick Castellanos and pinch-hitter Torii Hunter.
Avila followed with a drive to right that Ichiro Suzuki couldn't quite get to. Kelley flung his glove to the ground as soon as Avila connected.
Phil Coke (2-2) got one out for the win.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Brian McCann hit a long foul ball to right field that nearly ended up being a three-run homer. Coke recovered to strike him out.
Hiroki Kuroda allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings for New York, but he's still without a victory over the Tigers in his career. He's beaten baseball's other 29 teams.
Lobstein allowed four hits and a walk. He did not strike out a batter.
Avila opened the scoring in the second with a sacrifice fly, then Jacoby Ellsbury tied it in the third with an RBI single.
McCann's RBI groundout in the fourth put New York ahead, and Rajai Davis tied it with a run-scoring single in the fifth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka was on the field before the game throwing 49 pitches in a simulated game. Manager Joe Girardi said Tanaka was able to use all his pitches. The Japanese star hasn't pitched since July 8 because of a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament.
Tigers: RHP Joakim Soria (left oblique strain) threw off flat ground Tuesday and Wednesday and felt no pain. He is scheduled to throw again Friday at a longer distance. ... RHP Luke Putkonen was scheduled to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment with Class A West Michigan on Thursday night. He has been sidelined since April 19 because of right elbow inflammation.
UP NEXT
Yankees: Chris Capuano (1-3) takes the mound Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Toronto. Mark Buehrle (11-8) starts for the Blue Jays — he is 1-12 lifetime against the Yankees, and has lost his last 10 decisions.
Tigers: Detroit begins a three-day, four-game set in Chicago against the White Sox. Justin Verlander (11-11) pitches Friday against Scott Carroll (5-8).
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