Offense Falters As Tigers Drop Series Opener, 2-1, To Yankees

NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon McCarthy won his fourth start in a row with a gritty effort, and the New York Yankees took the first of three straight matchups against Detroit's Cy Young Award winners, beating Max Scherzer and the Tigers 2-1 Monday night.

Brian McCann hit an RBI single and Jacoby Ellsbury had a sacrifice fly in the third, an inning in which the Tigers saved several runs with fine fielding.

McCarthy (4-0) allowed five hits and an unearned run in 5 2-3 innings. The Yankees have won each of his five starts since being acquired from Arizona. He threw a season-high 116 pitches and struck out eight, including all three in the second when Victor Martinez led off with a double and Detroit loaded the bases.

David Robertson was perfect in the ninth for his 30th save.

Scherzer (13-4) gave up nine hits over seven innings in losing for the first time since June 17, a span of eight starts. The reigning AL Cy Young winner yielded two runs in the third, but it could've been much worse.

With the bases loaded, Ellsbury sent a deep drive to center field. Ezequiel Carrera, promoted from Triple-A last week after Austin Jackson was traded in the deadline deal that sent David Price to Detroit, made a long run before diving back toward the wall. Fully extended, Carrera made the catch and slid on his stomach onto the warning track.

Carrera was making his first start in center field for Detroit.

Ian Kinsler made two nice plays at second base in the third and had an RBI single in the fifth after Eugenio Suarez reached on third baseman Martin Prado's throwing error.

On Tuesday, Price the 2012 AL Cy Young winner, will make his Tigers debut. He'll be followed by 2011 winner Justin Verlander.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: Suarez, the shortstop, left in the fifth after spraining his knee sliding into second base on a steal. He will be reevaluated Tuesday.

Yankees: Japanese ace Masahiro Tanaka played light catch for the first time since he was sidelined in earl July with a slight tear of his ulnar collateral ligament. He said he felt relieved and was ready for the next step. ... Starter Michael Pineda (right shoulder muscle) felt great a day after pitching 3 1-3 innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Manager Joe Girardi says Pineda likely needs two more starts.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Price (11-8) has had a lot of success at the new Yankee Stadium. He's 6-2 with a 3.57 ERA in 12 starts there.

Yankees: Hiroki Kuroda (7-7) sure enjoys pitching at home for New York. He's 22-12 with a 2.93 ERA in 44 starts in the Bronx since putting on the pinstripes in 2012.