DETROIT (AP) -Gary Sheffield, Carlos Guillen and Placido Polanco hit homers off C.C. Sabathia, turning a battle of All-Star pitchers into a rout as the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 12-3 on Thursday.
Like Sabathia, Justin Verlander (10-3) gave up a home run in the first inning before settling down. He gave up three runs – two earned – and six hits while striking out seven and walking none over seven innings.
Sabathia (12-3) gave up a season-high seven runs in a season-low four innings. The reigning AL Player of the Week gave up 10 hits, walked one and struck out three.
Sheffield’s two-run homer in the fourth was his 20th of the season and the 475th of his career, moving him into a tie for 27th with Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Willie Stargell.
Yankees 7, Twins 6
NEW YORK (AP) – Hideki Matsui hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning and Mariano Rivera got out of a jam in the ninth for his 424th save, tying him with John Franco for third on the career list.
Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera also homered for New York, which played without Alex Rodriguez for the first time this season. Rodriguez sat out with a strained left hamstring.
Derek Jeter walked with two outs in the eighth against Pat Neshek (3-1) before Matsui hit a 3-1 pitch deep into the stands in right for his 10th homer of the season.
Kyle Farnsworth (1-1) pitched a perfect eighth before Rivera allowed Joe Mauer’s RBI groundout in the ninth. He struck out Michael Cuddyer with a runner on second for his 11th save in 13 opportunities.
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