Tigers 3, Yankees 1: Jordan Zimmermann, Dustin Peterson power Tigers to win

Jordan Zimmermann continued his strong start to 2019, and John Hicks and Dustin Peterson provided the key hits to ignite the Tigers offense as Detroit downed the Yankees 3-1 in the Bronx.

Things got off to a very discouraging start as Nicholas Castellanos and Miguel Cabrera notched back-to-back one-out hits in the first inning, but were stranded. In the fourth inning, Jeimer Candelario provided a scoring opportunity with a leadoff double. He moved to third on a single off the bat of John Hicks. But Christin Stewart flew out to shallow left field and Dustin Peterson grounded into an inning-ending double play. Expletives were uttered by Tiger fans the world over.

The Tigers would get on the board in the sixth inning. With two out, Candelario drilled a ball down the first base line that took a perfect hop over the outstretched arm of Luke Voit for a two-out double.

John Hicks drove him home on a double up the left-center field gap, the first run produced by the Tigers’ bats on American soil this season.

Meanwhile, Zimmermann continued where he left off in Toronto. He tossed 6 ²⁄₃ innings of one run ball, allowing six hits and walking one while striking out six. His slider was sharp, and he paired it with his fastball to keep the Yankee hitters off balance most of the night, with most of their hits coming on ground balls and seeing-eye loopers.

The game would remain tied through the eighth inning when Joe Jimenez, after hitting Voit in the hand with a fastball, ended the threat with a terrific snag and solo double play to end the inning.

The only thing missing from that play? A tender kiss on the ball.

With the game still tied at one, Aroldis Chapman entered in the top of the ninth inning. Yours truly was just hoping for extra innings at that point, but Dustin Peterson had other plans. Niko Goodrum pinch hit for Stewart and drew a one-out walk. Peterson came through in style, picking up his first career hit by drilling an inside fastball off the left field wall for the game-winning RBI.

Jordy Mercer followed with an RBI single up the middle to provide an insurance run, but it would not be needed. Shane Greene closed out an uneventful bottom of the ninth to even up the series and get the Tigers back to .500.

Matthew Boyd will look to give the Tigers their first series win tomorrow and send the club to their home opener with a winning record.

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