Derek Jeter hits first homer of season, Darrell Rasner pitches Yankees past Tigers 5-2
Associated Press | May 10, 08 5:58 PM CDT in
Sports
Derek Jeter hit his first homer of the season, Darrell Rasner pitched six-plus strong innings and the New York Yankees ended a six-game losing streak to the Detroit Tigers with a 5-2 victory Saturday.
Rasner (2-0) gave up two runs and four hits, departing after Magglio Ordonez's leadoff single in the seventh.
Three relievers finished, with Joba Chamberlain pitching the eighth and Mariano Rivera the ninth for his 10th save in 10 chances. The Yankees had lost seven of eight against Detroit dating to last season.
Jeremy Bonderman (2-4) lasted just four-plus innings in his shortest start of the year, giving up five runs, six hits and four walks.
Bonderman fell back into his pattern of first-inning struggles, allowing a solo homer to Jeter, then walking Melky Cabrera with the bases loaded. Jeter's homer ended a career-long drought of 128 at-bats to start a season.
"I could really care less," Jeter said with a smile. "I'm just kidding. I wanted at least one."
The Tigers pulled to 2-1 in the bottom half on Matt Joyce's first career homer, but couldn't get much going against Rasner.
The Yankees increased the lead to two on Wilson Betemit's RBI double in the fourth, then made it 5-1 with two in the fifth.
Jeter led off with a single and scored on Bobby Abreu's double. Hideki Matsui popped out, but Jason Giambi hit an RBI double to give New York a four-run edge.
After Ordonez chased Rasner to start the Detroit seventh, Miguel Cabrera singled off Kyle Farnsworth and Gary Sheffield hit a run-scoring double.
Edgar Renteria lined to second for the first out, and Farnsworth struck out Ivan Rodriguez before retiring pinch-hitter Placido Polanco to end the inning.
Notes:@ Betemit left the game after his fourth-inning double with a strained right hamstring. ... According to Yankees manager Joe Girardi, Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada both had "good days" as they continue to recover from injuries at New York's minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. ... Rivera has not allowed an earned run in 13 1-3 career innings at Comerica Park. ... Sheffield's RBI was the 1,584th of his career, tying Harmon Killebrew and Rogers Hornsby for 33rd place.
(This version DELETES an incorrect note on attendance)
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