The Sports Xchange
Aug 2, 2017
NEW YORK -- Jordan Zimmermann pitched seven effective innings as the Detroit Tigers withstood two lengthy rain delays and beat the New York Yankees 2-0 on Wednesday.
The Tigers won after the game was delayed 86 minutes before the first pitch and, after it was delayed for more than three hours following the seventh inning. The two delays totaled a combined 4 hours, 37 minutes.
Justin Upton celebrated the 10-year anniversary of his major league debut with an RBI double five pitches into the game against Masahiro Tanaka (8-10).
James McCann added a run-scoring single in the fourth inning as Mikie Mahtook scored on a fielding error during the hit by center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.
Those runs were enough for Zimmermann (7-8), who worked quickly and efficiently but also escaped a few significant jams while holding the Yankees to six hits. He struck out six and did not issue a walk for the third time in four starts.
Mixing in a low 90s fastball with an effective slider, Zimmermann threw first-pitch strikes to 23 hitters while pitching in the rain at times.
Heavy rains appeared shortly after Zimmermann finished the seventh inning by narrowly beating Brett Gardner to first base on a ground ball.
Before finishing the seventh quickly, Zimmermann escaped trouble in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings.
The Yankees had second and third with two outs when Chase Headley doubled, but Zimmermann retired Todd Frazier on a fly ball to end the second.
An inning later, the Yankees had first and third, but Zimmermann struck out Aaron Judge swinging on a breaking ball out of the strike zone and retired Gary Sanchez on the next pitch.
In the fourth, Didi Gregorius led off with a single, but Matt Holliday, Headley and Frazier struck out looking.
Two innings later, Judge and Sanchez opened with a single and double, putting runners at second and third. Zimmermann preserved the shutout by retiring Gregorius and Holliday before fanning Headley.
Bruce Rondon fanned two in a scoreless eighth and Shane Greene needed only eight pitches to notch his second save.
Five days after striking out a career-high 14 hitters against Tampa Bay, Tanaka allowed two runs (one earned) and six hits in six innings.
NOTES: Detroit SS Jose Iglesias (sprained right wrist) did not start for the second straight game but entered as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. He initially injured the wrist while striking out in the sixth inning on Monday against RHP Tommy Kahnle. ... RHP Sonny Gray said he threw an extra bullpen session to prepare himself for his Yankees debut Thursday in Cleveland. ... New York LF Brett Gardner extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games. ... Detroit C James McCann extended his hitting streak to 12 games.