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Tigers shoot for rare sweep in the Bronx

Thu 1st, May 2008

(Sports Network) - It has been more than 42 years since the Tigers last swept a series in the Bronx. However, that is the position Detroit finds itself in tonight, as it plays the finale of a three-game series with the New York Yankees.

Though Detroit did post a three-game sweep at home over New York in May of 2000, it hasn't claimed all three tests of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium since doing so from April 12-14, 1966.

In the third game of that set, Detroit was paced by three hits and two RBI by Hall-of-Famer Al Kaline, while Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle combined to go 0- for-7 with three strikeouts for the Yankees in a 5-2 setback.

Detroit defeated the Yankees 6-4 in the first game of this current set on Tuesday, and then posted a 6-2 victory on Wednesday. Placido Polanco hit a pair of solo home runs to lead the Tigers past the injury-laden Yankees.

Marcus Thames belted a two-run homer for the Tigers, who have won seven of their last nine contests overall. Gary Sheffield went 2-for-4 with a run scored and Jeremy Bonderman (2-2) got the win by allowing just two runs on five hits in 7 2/3 innings of work.

Tonight's starter, Nate Robertson, has not been a part of Detroit's resurgence, as he has lost his last two starts and is 0-3 on the season with a 6.91 earned run average. After losing in Toronto on April 20, the left-hander gave up four runs on six hits over seven innings of a setback to the Angels on Friday. Robertson wasn't as bad as advertised, though, as all four of those runs came in one inning.

Robertson is just 1-5 with a 4.86 ERA in seven career starts versus the Yankees, including a loss the last time he faced them on August 17 last year in the Bronx. He was tagged for five runs and 10 hits in six innings of that one.

Robertson will face the same injury-riddled lineup as Detroit's previous two starters. Three-time MVP Alex Rodriguez landed on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday due to a Grade 2 strain of his right quadriceps, while catcher Jorge Posada (strained right shoulder) is also on the DL for the first time in his career.

It didn't get any better yesterday, as New York also placed starting pitcher Phil Hughes on the 15-day DL because of a strained right oblique.

Johnny Damon had a double and scored a run on Wednesday for the Yankees, who have lost five of their last seven to dip below .500 (14-15). Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Jason Giambi was responsible for New York's other run batted in.

Andy Pettitte (3-3) was roughed up for five runs on seven hits in six innings of work. New York's bullpen was solid, allowing three hits and a run in three innings of work.

Ian Kennedy starts for the Yankees tonight and appeared to make progress last time out. The 23-year-old is 0-2 on the season with an 8.53 ERA, but lasted five innings on Saturday in Cleveland after giving up three runs on four hits with four walks.

Kennedy, who faces Detroit for the first time in his career, will make just his second home start of the year and first since April 4, when he yielded a season-high six runs on just four hits and four walks over 2 1/3 innings of work against Tampa Bay.

These teams split their eight matchups last season, but the Yankees are 14-9 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign, including wins in eight of the 12 regular-season meetings in the Bronx over that time.

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