Tigers Destroy Yankees

Aug 28, 01:15 AM

Current Headlines:

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Placido Polanco went 3-for-5 with a home run and knocked in two runs, as the Detroit Tigers hammered the New York Yankees, 16-0, in the final contest of a four-game series at Comerica Park.

Brandon Inge hit three doubles, scored twice and knocked in four runs while Curtis Granderson went 3-for-6 with two RBI for the Tigers, who took three of four from New York and trail Cleveland by 2 1/2 games in the AL Central. The Indians defeated Minnesota earlier on Monday.

"If you can't get confidence from taking three of four from the Yankees, you probably don't have a pulse," Inge said.

Detroit starter Justin Verlander (14-5) tossed seven shutout innings of three- hit ball while Ryan Raburn ended 2-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI in the victory for the Tigers, who pounded out 20 hits.

"Everything went our way tonight," Raburn said. "We just dominated them. We got good swings from everyone in the order. We really needed this win. It was a big confidence booster to take on the road."

Mike Mussina started for New York and lasted just three innings after allowing six runs on nine hits with a walk. Mussina (8-10) has now allowed at least six earned runs in his last three starts.

"Two weeks ago, I felt like I could do anything I wanted, and now I don't feel like I can help us at all," Mussina said. "Those are probably the worst innings I've pitched in my entire career. I can't believe that in three starts I've forgotten how to pitch after 17 years."

Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez and Melky Cabrera had the only hits of the game for the Yankees, who have lost two straight and trail idle Boston by eight games in the AL East. New York also still trails Seattle by two games in the AL wild card race. The Mariners lost to Angels on Monday.

Detroit dominated the contest from the start, scoring at least a run in the first five innings.

The Tigers loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with one out and managed to get one run home. Granderson started things with a single, stole second and moved to third on Polanco's base hit. After a fielder's choice by Marcus Thames, Magglio Ordonez drew a walk. A sacrifice fly by Carlos Guillen then plated Polanco for the first run of the game.

Detroit added two runs in the second to increase its lead to 3-0. Sean Casey singled to start things and with two outs, Granderson doubled to right-center to plate Casey. Polanco then followed with a single up the middle to bring Granderson home.

The Tigers tacked on three runs in the third to make it a six-run contest. A base hit by Ivan Rodriguez plated Guillen, who doubled with one out. With two down, Raburn singled home Rodriguez and a two-base hit from Inge scored Raburn to make it 6-0.

Edwar Ramirez started the fourth inning for New York in relief of Mussina and was greeted by Polanco, who belted a home run to left for a seven-run advantage.

Detroit continued to cushion its lead and went up 10-0 in the fifth. Casey tripled and pinch-runner Ramon Santiago scored on Raburn's base hit off Sean Henn. Inge followed with a double and crossed the plate on Granderson's ground out to first. Polanco then walked and Inge scored on Thames' single.

In the seventh, Detroit loaded the bases and Henn issued a free pass to Raburn to force in a run while Inge cleared the bases with a double off the base of the wall in left. Inge scored later in the frame as Polanco reached base on Wilson Betemit's fielding error while an RBI ground-rule double by Cameron Maybin made it 16-0.

Game Notes

Detroit's 16 runs were a season high...Earlier on Monday, the Tigers placed slugger Gary Sheffield on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder prior to the game. The move is retroactive to August 22. To take his spot on the roster, Detroit recalled outfielder Timo Perez from Triple-A Toledo...Henn gave up nine runs -- seven earned -- on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings.

08/28 00:40:38 ET