Three runs in the third inning settled it. Framber Valdez did the rest. Detroit defeated New York 5-3 on Monday, handing the Yankees their second straight loss while extending the Tigers' winning streak to three games.
Valdez was the story on the mound. He worked six innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 8 on 94 pitches. The win moved him to 4-5 with a 3.91 ERA. Will Vest followed with 1.1 scoreless innings, striking out 2, to earn his second save of the season.
New York struck first in the second when Sánchez doubled to left and Caballero scored. Detroit answered in the third with a three-run inning that proved decisive. McKinstry scored on a McGonigle groundout to tie it, then Carpenter scored on a Torkelson single to center — the go-ahead run — and Greene scored on a Keith single to center to push the lead to 3-1. Detroit added a run in the fourth when Lee scored on a McGonigle double, with McGonigle reaching third on a throwing error by Caballero. Riley Greene capped the scoring in the fifth with a home run to right center, 422 feet, making it 5-1. Amed Rosario pulled New York within two in the seventh with a two-run homer to right center, 373 feet, scoring Wells, but Detroit's bullpen held from there.
Gerrit Cole lasted just 4.1 innings, surrendering all 5 Detroit runs on 9 hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts on 89 pitches. He falls to 2-2 with a 3.62 ERA. The Yankees committed 2 errors on the afternoon, one of which extended a Detroit scoring play.
Detroit improved to 33-44, winners of three in a row. New York dropped to 46-30, losing two straight despite holding first place in their division.