Detroit Vs. New York 5-3-11
With their All-Star second baseman out of commission, the New York Yankees needed a ninth-inning rally to earn a third straight win.
Robinson Cano hopes to return to the lineup as the Yankees try for a season-best fourth consecutive victory Tuesday night at the slumping Detroit Tigers.
Cano, who had played every inning of every game before leaving Sunday's 5-2 win over Toronto with a bone bruise on his left hand, was held out of Monday's 5-3 series-opening victory at Detroit (12-17).
New York (17-9) plated three runs in the first two innings Monday but went 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position and failed to score again until the ninth. The Yankees surely could have used the help of Cano, who has four homers and seven RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.
"It might feel better (Tuesday)," manager Joe Girardi told the Yankees' official website. "You might see him in there (Tuesday)."
Cano has experienced similar success recently against the Tigers, with four home runs and seven RBIs in his last six games versus Detroit.
Yankees probable starter CC Sabathia (2-1, 2.25 ERA), meanwhile, has struggled in Detroit of late. The left-hander, who went 7-1 with a 3.09 ERA over his first 10 career road starts against the Tigers, is 0-3 with an 8.50 ERA in his three most recent outings at Comerica Park.
Sabathia, though, will be looking to win his third consecutive start overall. He held the Chicago White Sox to three unearned runs and seven hits in seven innings of Thursday's 12-3 victory.
"I don't think he shook me off once," Yankees catcher Russell Martin said. "He's the type of guy who, even if he does get behind in counts, can throw all of his pitches at any time. That helps him. He doesn't have to rely on his fastball to get outs."
Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera, who went 3 for 4 with an RBI on Monday to increase his team-leading average to .350, is 8 for 14 with two homers off Sabathia.
Catcher Alex Avila homered twice to help Detroit tie Monday's game, but Jose Valverde allowed two runs in the ninth to send the Tigers to their seventh consecutive loss. The Tigers haven't dropped eight straight since Sept. 16-23, 2005.
"That's the problem when you have lost seven games in a row - you don't get much work for your closer," manager Jim Leyland said.
After giving up one hit in a 9-0 win over the White Sox on April 23, Detroit starter Brad Penny (1-3, 6.11) struggled Thursday , surrendering four runs and nine hits in seven innings of a 7-2 loss to Seattle. He has allowed at least four runs in four of his six outings.
The right-hander allowed a season-worst eight runs in 4 1-3 innings during a 10-6 loss at Yankee Stadium on April 2.
Cano is 3 for 8 lifetime against Penny, while Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter have combined for 10 hits in 21 at-bats.
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