Max Scherzer led the Detroit Tigers to a 8-4 victory on Saturday afternoon over the New York Yankees, bringing the team to a AL Central Division lead tie with the Chicago White Sox.
Their offense remained hot despite the afternoon having a very chilly feel. Slapping three doubles and seventeen total hits, the team as a whole hit at a .292 clip, led by Miguel Cabrera‘s 4-for-4 performance which saw his season average rise to .368. The Tigers never trailed, bringing a 5-1 lead into the sixth inning, and then that is when things started to get interesting.
The Yankees led off the sixth inning with back-to-back walks off of Scherzer by Robinson Cano and Kevin Youkilis bringing Travis Hafner to the plate. With the struggling pitcher trying to find the strike zone, Hafner singled to center, scoring Cano and forcing a pitching change. Al Alburquerque walked the bases loaded before getting Brennan Boesch to line into a double-play. The Tigers were not out of the jam just yet though.
Answering with two of their own in the bottom of the sixth and another in the eighth, the Tigers continued their triumphant ways over the Yankees, giving Scherzer his first victory of the year.
Tigers News and Notes: The Tigers handed out their 2012 AL title rings before the game. Ironically, they defeated the Yankees in the post season last year to get to the World Series. Tigers manager Jim Leyland mentioned before the game that he enjoyed having a lefty-righty combination to close out games, but also hinted if both were healthy and fully rested, he would lean towards Joaquin Benoit. And last, but certainly not least, the Tigers organization is about to have a new member. Catcher Alex Avila and his wife are expecting the birth of their child later tonight. Plenty of well wishes and prayers go out to the Avila family for a safe delivery.
