"Sabathia pitched well enough to win, but the offense was helpless against Verlander, the Tigers’ revitalized ace. He struck out nine with no walks, permitting no runners past second in his first victory this season.
“This is one of those games where he beat us, that’s the bottom line,” said Derek Jeter, who rarely praises a pitcher so emphatically. “There are games throughout the year where you felt like you lost it, actually. But he was better than us. He deserved to win today.”
Verlander carved up the Yankees with biting curveballs and fastballs up to 99 miles an hour. It is a speed few starters can reach, even Sabathia, though he pumped 96 m.p.h. and was far more aggressive than he has usually been this season.
“He pitched a great game,” Sabathia said of Verlander, “and I was trying to match him.” [NYTimes.com]
Comments