Detroit Vs. New York 5-4-11
Freddy Garcia has picked up his most victories against any opponent when facing Detroit. That's not good news for a Tigers team that hasn't been doing too much winning.
Garcia, who owns a 1.59 ERA in three starts with the New York Yankees, looks for his 19th win over the Tigers in the third game of this four-game series at Comerica Park on Wednesday night.
AL East-leading New York (17-10) and Detroit (13-17) have split the first two meetings, with the Tigers beating CC Sabathia 4-2 on Tuesday night to end a seven-game losing streak.
"I'm not going to sit here tonight and say, 'Hey, we're out of our little slump,'" manager Jim Leyland said. "That's foolish. But I am going to say that I do believe in contagious."
The Tigers will now attempt to beat Garcia, who is 18-7 with a 3.84 ERA in 31 starts against Detroit and didn't allow a run in his first two starts this season.
Garcia (1-1, 2.00) suffered a loss in his last outing, giving up three runs over five innings in falling 5-3 to Toronto on Friday.
The right-hander, 8-4 with a 3.72 ERA in 15 outings at Comerica Park, has had trouble with Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers first baseman is 8 for 20 with three home runs, while outfielder Brennan Boesch is 4 for 12 with a homer against Garcia.
Cabrera is 9 for 17 with two homers, five walks and six RBIs over his last five games.
Garcia has handled Victor Martinez well, holding him to six hits in 27 at-bats (.222). Martinez is expected to play Wednesday for the first time since going on the disabled list April 19 because of a strained right groin.
Max Scherzer (4-0, 3.82) is looking to beat the Yankees for the second time this season despite not pitching well in the first meeting. The right-hander allowed six runs and nine hits - four homers - over five innings of a 10-7 victory in New York on April 3.
Scherzer is coming off his worst start since that outing. He gave up five runs and six hits while walking five in 6 2-3 innings in a 9-5 loss at Cleveland on Friday.
Alex Rodriguez is 0 for 5 with two strikeouts against Scherzer, and the Yankees third baseman is hitting .156 (7 for 45) with 11 strikeouts over his last 12 games.
Jorge Posada hit two of New York's homers off Scherzer last month, and the designated hitter is starting to turn things around. Posada is 5 for his last 12, including two hits in each of the first two games of this series, after opening the season 9 for 72 (.125).
Posada, though, was one of three players to run into key outs on the bases Tuesday for New York, which had won three straight and five of six.
"Over the course of the year, you know are there going to be nights like this, but you never enjoy them," manager Joe Girardi said. "You don't ever want to see your team making multiple mental mistakes.
"It is impossible to say exactly how it affects the game, but you can't make foolish outs."
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