Yankees 7, Tigers 3: New York offense bombs Michael Fulmer in series opener

Demoralized by the loss of dominant closer Justin Wilson and team leader Alex Avila, the Detroit Tigers were helpless to defend themselves in a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Monday.

Well, not quite.

In truth, the Tigers ran into a better team on Monday evening. The Yankees have a deeper lineup and bullpen than Detroit does, and that showed in a true Bronx dismantling. First baseman Chase Headley, New York’s No. 6 hitter, doubled in a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the Yankees up 2-0. No. 7 hitter Todd Frazier followed with a two-run single to double their lead. Each of the top six Yankees hitters scored runs, and Headley led the way with three hits. Aaron Judge hit a home run for good measure, his 34th of the season.

The Tigers offense did what they could to elevate starter Luis Severino’s pitch count. He threw 116 pitches to get through just five innings, and only threw 68 of those for strikes. However, the Tigers could not take advantage, scoring just one run on four hits. Severino struck out eight before leaving things with the vaunted Yankees bullpen. Detroit managed a run off former AL Central foe Tommy Kahnle to make it 5-2, but Dellin Betances worked a scoreless seventh before his team’s offense tacked on a pair of insurance runs.

The Tigers did what they could to make things interesting in the ninth, but Aroldis Chapman came on to record the final two outs and his 13th save of the season.

ROARS:

James McCann: He struck out three times, but also drove in the Tigers’ first run with a two-out double in the top of the fourth.

Nick Castellanos: He reached base four times. It’s not his fault no one drove him in.

Jim Adduci: It could have been worse if not for Adduci.

HISSES:

Michael Fulmer: He didn’t have his best stuff tonight, and it showed. Fulmer gave up a season-high six earned runs in six innings for his ninth loss of the year.

Everyone else: It feels wrong to have three roars and only one hiss in a game this bad, but there’s not really anyone to single out. Victor Martinez had a night to forget, if we’re naming names.