 Afternoon baseball here on the show today. We've got a good match up ahead between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. Major League Baseball on the show is next. Jordan Zimmerman the right hander from the state of Wisconsin is on the mound here. Dan any thoughts. Hey Matt we're getting a chance to look at a guy that's been pretty good as last three starts a whip under 1.20. So he minimizes the amount of base runners. He's a tough customer. It'll be fun to watch him to see if he's on point early in this one here today. Here's Brett Gartner now and we are ready for some daytime baseball. Ready with the first pitch here it comes hit on the ground down the first baseline but a foul ball here 0 and 1. Now the pitch a ball and a strike to our lead off man here this afternoon. So fellas these Tigers as they begin play here today they came out on the losing end last time out and are in a bit of a skid. In fact they've lost seven of their last 10. Yeah Maddie they played a heck of a game first game at this series and then dropped the last two not playing really good baseball. They have to find a way to win this one today. No doubt about it Dero there's such a thing as a good series by winning the last one and getting a split in the four game set. That's exactly what they would like to do today to get some momentum going into the next series. Now the 2 1 hit in the air to left field. Reyes moves over a few steps to his right as he's got it for the first time. That'll bring in Giovanni your shell up. He did not play last night but clearly back in the starting nine for this one. First pitch of the at bat on its way. Grounded weakly down the line toward third. This is foul for the first strike altogether a fine afternoon for baseball 66 degrees the game time temperature. Here's the 0 1 and a pitch in the dirt as he lays off it's one and one. And there are the umpires assigned to this one calling balls and strikes as Mr. Mike Fillmore. Hey you know Dero Mike Fillmore he'll give a little bit off the edges but he gets the respect not only from the pitchers but from the players because his zone is consistent. Yeah as long as he's consistent Dan I'm OK with Mike Fillmore zone. If a pitcher's pound in that zone he wants to give a little bit off the outer edge. I'm OK with that. Stepping up to the plate Aaron judge and he's definitely off to a fast start in the early part of the season. He's ready. Here's the first offering. Good bike to the slider and he takes strike one and this misses the outside corner so it's knotted up at one and one bases are empty here with two men out and it's a ballman two strikes not Aaron judge. I get it they want to run this guy's pitch count up but that was a pretty good pitch to hit. He might be kick himself that he'd swing at that one and there's a base hit on a line. So that two out success means Gary Sanchez will get to hit here. So a two out single there as we check out the teams with the highest batting averages here in the first month of the season and we see that these guys are currently second in the AL in that department with the plate. Gary Sanchez. He gets a shot to hit here in the inning following the two out single. Yeah and that hit might not amount to much but any time you could extend an inning and give a guy with plenty of pop a chance to swing it the outlook of an inning changes dramatically. First pitch of the at bat. He's ready. Here's the 0 1. Smoked on the ground left side and now he has some trouble with it and left. I'll look like an easy beginning of this inning gets the first two guys out then the three and four hitters all of a sudden start locking in on him and now he's got to get through this pit cold hitter to get out of this inning unscathed. Yeah he's definitely put his feet to the fire right here. This number five guy he's known he sits in that five hole to drive in runs and he's smelling rivies right now. Mike Tuckman is in with two away now as he looks at a called strike one judge over at second Sanchez on at first with two down fastball and he's quickly in the hole low and two or you could see he's coming right at this guy just pounding the ball in the strike zone. He certainly has the advantage now. This guy hasn't even swung the bat yet well outside with the curveball for a ball. He didn't look overly fooled right there because a lot of pitchers will go to the breaking stuff 0 and 2. But he certainly looked ready for a breaker on that pitch just tried to freeze him with the fastball there pretty close. It's two and two. This is a huge pitch right here. I don't think he wants to go three two and have those runners be in motion. Look for him to be aggressive with what he thinks is his best pitch right now. The two two lifted down the line in left and they can't run it down. Two down runners at first and second full count is that misses three and two now. He really needs to find a pitch to put this guy away with right here right now. He can't allow this inning to get any worse than it's already become. And that pitch misses for ball four. So some intrigue now is the bases are loaded here with two away. I'll tell you he's looked unsteady out there since the first pitch he threw a couple of hits in a free pass. So he's really searching for an answer to get back on track. We'll see if he could settle down here. Stepping into the box. He's just hoping for something to go his way in this one. And as you can see it's not been the case of late. The first pitch to him. The fastball here is he'll take a look at ball one one and oh one and oh here it is. And he won't bite at that one either. It's two and oh nowhere to put anybody too old count. Not a good spot to be in as a pitcher bases are loaded here two down find its way out of play still going to have a good hitters count two and one now. And this is hit hard to the right side. But foul. He set the two to. It's a high fly ball headed for the left field corner if it stays fair it's gone. Would have been a grand slam if he'd straightened it out. Instead it's a foul ball. Here's the two and two. This is in the air out to right field. Stewart is there as he makes the catch and they'll tight rope out of danger as he strands the bases loaded Yankees leave them loaded Yankees nothing. Tigers come into bat. You're watching Major League Baseball on the show gets handed the ball for the fourth and final game of the series. What do you have for us on him Danny. Hey you can't always judge a pitcher by the numbers. I know the ERA is into the fours coming into this start but he's actually a pretty solid pitcher and every once in a while he could throw some decent games in there. It's not easy have it in the ERA under four in baseball. He's slightly over that. This guy's a better pitcher than that ERA indicates standing in Victor Reyes. He'll leave things off here in the bottom half of the first out in front of it strike one and boy they're really giving him fits inside now as he can't get extended there in its own two now nothing in two count and the pitch. Now the fastball is right down as he swings and misses for the first out of the inning. Man I love watching a pitcher that just wears back and blows smoke by a guy at the letters. That's the ultimate challenge pitching for me personally watching hitter swing and miss man that's a sight of beauty standing in now Harold Castro and he'll take a tough pitch on the outside part of the plate for strike one. Well this Yankee ballclub entering play this afternoon here. They're definitely in a nice stretch as they've won six of their last seven ball games. They've won many of the yeah they'd like to finish this series off strong D row they won't lose the first game of the set they come back storming winning games two and three. They'd like nothing more than to finish it off and go three out of four and win this one here. And heading into the weekend this could really fire up this team both offensively and defensively wind up and the O2 pitch I'm pretty surprised by the location on those last three pitches. The book on him is that he hits the way pitch pretty well and he just saw three in a row out there. So does he go back out there again. No man I expected to mix it up most catchers won't call for the same location over and over and over. That's a great take right there great pitch recognition to let that one go opposite handed that's coming across the plate you might think you got a shot to stay inside that one and I take strike three called back to back strikeouts here to open the home first two away. He's just got great strike out stuff in his last start he racked up double hits and it looks like he could finish up in that range again here. He's really an exciting pitcher to watch when he's sending guys packing like this. The first baseman Miguel Cabrera stands in as he'll take a look at a slider here that misses for ball one first cuts for him here with the bases open and two away the wind up and the 1 0 pitch going to be a long day if he executes like this punching tickets right out of the gate to out nobody on left center base hit. He's been called fat and average fell below two thirty but that might have put him in a positive frame of mind. Hopefully that's the start of something big right now into the box. Nico Goodrum as he'll look at a fastball too high for ball one. He takes his first cuts in this one with a man at first and two away change up low two and 0 down low and the plot thickens here three and 0. If I'm managing this hitter right here he doesn't even have to look down at the third base coach. You know he's got the green light. He's one of the best hitters in your lineup and this pitch misses for ball four. So that's going to move a runner in the scoring position now with two away. Oh man I think this walk is going to grind in him for a bit. He just missed and now the inning continues with the man in scoring position. So digging in now Austin Romain was back in the starting lineup for this one after sitting out last night's game looking to wiggle out of this. Here it is outside target here and he hits it for strike one little chopper back to the mound and the two out threat will not come to pass as the inning is over. Tigers come up empty in the first. We've played an inning at Comerica Park with no score into the box. Mike Ford first shot for him here. Two hits in five trips a night ago. Now the pitch the wind up and it's down to one rounded up the first baseline. Oh and he can't come up with it. And he'll flip it to the pitcher covering for the out here's McGill and Doha now he's got three hits in six tries for the series. First pitch on its way no score here as we play inning number two can't sit back long enough in the count evens up at one and one now here it comes and he fouls this one off got him swinging chased it well out of his own and there are two gone classic slider down and away for the strike out there not a whole lot to say about that pitch that hasn't been said a million times already. That's just a real tough pitch for a hitter to pick up out of a pitcher's hand so they end up chasing when they're in protect mode and that'll bring up Tyler Wayne as the first pitch to him is off the plate for a ball one or no day off for him yesterday but back out there for this one. Here comes the 1 0 and a fast ball that's about off the radar screen there. It's 2 1 0 bases are empty here with two men out line drive to center field the merits there to retire the side so the Yanks go 1 2 3 we'll go to the bottom of the second no score into the box now Jordy Mercer and he's looking to get it going off to a bit of a slow start this year first pitch of the at bat on its way hard hit ball to second and this is into the alley and ought to be good for extra bases. He takes the turn and heads for second and get the second now with nobody out while this is a perfect example of a wily veteran doing what needs to be done to deliver for his team. Yeah. And just watch this swing instead of trying to do too much with it and pull it. He stays inside the ball and is able to smack it to the opposite field for a double up next steps. Kristen Stewart is ready for his first at bat of this early season contest swung on and missed its own one eighty eight on a change up. I remember when eighty eight mile an hour fastball wasn't all that bad and the game's changing that misses wide one ball and one strike cold or the cold train as he's frequently called. This is year one of a new nine year deal that he signed recently so it looks like he's here to stay for a long time one and two. Not much you're going to do with that pitch right there. You have to catch it out front before it even breaks. And even if you do that it's a tough pitch to keep fair under its second nobody out fastball swung on and missed for the first out got him with a good high fastball there. Danny we see a lot of that pitch and strikeout situations these days. What makes it so effective. I think Matt would makes it such a tough pitch as you're changing eye levels that fast ball up looks so enticing to hit that you think you see that ball as a hitter do you think you can drive it. But it's really hard to get on top of that good high hard fastball. The next batter Jay Mercan Delario as he'll take a look at an off speed pitch here that misses for ball one low and away as he misses again to an old bottom of the second here with no score. This is he had high in the air out toward left center. Tuckman will range to his left as he tracks this one down in left center for the second out of the inning. Never do that now in the box Travis de Merit runner in scoring position with Sugan ready to deliver. Here's the first pitch 0 1 offering as a veteran out on the mound that's a pitch that you expect to get a call on. Got to believe he keeps pounding that spot until he builds a rapport with the umpire one and one. Here it is. Well we all know he's not the greatest threat with the bat up there. His numbers certainly aren't that pretty. But hey I give him credit. He's really working to count right here. Two and one here it is swing and a miss strike to a three on three and two to the Tigers center fielder when a pitchers close to working through a quick inning. That's when you really need to grind out some at bats. He's done a good job of that and that's really big when you're hitting towards the bottom of the order. The payoff pitch fouled away seventh pitch of the at bat coming up and strike three called as he says you got to be kidding me with the side retired one left for Detroit and moved to the third with no score. So here's the veteran Brett Gartner he fly out leading off the ball game first offering on its way. And this pitch is right down the middle strike one. Well they've really had an answer for keeping him in check in this series. He's offered very little resistance with the bat in his hand so far one on its way this one's blooped out toward the right center field in there a base hit your shell this he'll take a look at a pitch too low it's ball one for one for him here in this one one and no delivery hard liner but picked up on a hop. There's one on the first and as Ernie may have said it's two for the price of one for the Tigers two away that'll bring up Aaron judge no one in the base for him after the double play. Yeah. And that that two ball really changed the complexion of this inning that looked like the middle of the order was going to have a chance to get a big hit with some ducks on the pond. But now they just have to try and get a two out rally started ready with the first pitch here it comes wouldn't mind a pitcher expand in his own a little bit more and using his aggressiveness against them. Here comes the 0 1 and a hanger as he gives this one a pretty good ride out to the center and he will get there to make the running play and that will end the inning down in order go the Yankees home half of the third coming up no score bottom of the inning now digging in to try it again. Victor Reyes who looked to bounce back after striking out his last time up and kind of shocked he got blown away with a fastball you could tell he was laid on that one and we'll see if he tries to cheat to something this into the wind up. Here comes the 0 1 very rarely does a pitcher like this leave one in a location like that. That's a pitcher right there. He'd like to have back. He'd love to swing at that one again a wind up and the 0 2 pitch. Oh that's a ball. Well that's a nasty breaking ball right there. Backdoor slider just missed the corner as they say that's a Hall of Fame pitch swing in a miss as he starts the third the same way he ended the second with a punch out one away. One of the toughest pitches to hit the straight change of right El Cambio hadn't seen it in that entire bat. What happens gets the string pulled on him right there had no chance to put that ball in play at the plate. Harold Castro as he'll come up empty there as he misses the off speed pitch for strike one over one here in the early going ball takes a pitch high and away for ball one change up gets him out in front strike two. Not the ideal location for a change up up in the zone but he got away with it. Skied into very shallow right judges under it and that's the second out of the inning. Now that the first base so two are gone now for Miguel Cabrera. Cole into the wind up first pitch on its way. Well. I don't want to know. The bottom of any number three nothing nothing our score a ball and a strike to Miguel Cabrera. They love the confidence in that pitch right there going right after one of the better hitters on this team not afraid to execute the one one home. This should end the inning as it's sent out to second reigned in throw to first to get him easily and the side is retired three up three down for Detroit. We'll head to the fourth still scoreless. It'll be the four hole hitter Gary Sanchez. This game is rolling right along as we move into the middle innings with no score. You'd think by now one of these two teams would be able to get some base runners on to get him in but that hasn't been the case. Here's the first pitch to him fly ball out to straight away right right fielder is on the run. He's there and records the first down. Now that ready for another chance. Mike Tuckman. He drew a base on balls his first time up. Now here's the pitch and that's high for a ball one and oh well if you love pitching and defense this has been a game for you. Are you happy with that Dan. I think this continues for a while Matt both of these pitchers are throwing very well throwing strikes having good command of their off speed pitches. This is going to be one of those low scoring affairs count even now with one and one no runs three hits and no errors for the Yankees so far here's a weekly hit fly ball off to the left side Goodrum on to the grass. He can't get there as it falls in. Hey just a nice piece of hitting right there. He's able to keep his hands inside that ball stay square as long as possible and feed it into the opposite field for a base hit dirty but he's back in safely and that'll bring up Glibert Torres. Bullet back up the middle dive but it's off his glove that had to be in the scouting report right there. You don't see too many OO breaking ball ambushes in the game anymore. He had to know that pitch was coming from now to the plate Mike Ford. Yes he takes a fastball off the plate for a ball one and all. He's over one thus far it's fouled away. I fly ball out to straight away center back goes to Merritt. He gets there and that's the second out and no tag at second. He'll head back there with two away now. Now that. Definitely. Digging in now. Miguel Andujar two men on two away here in the fourth first pitch coming. Here it is. Ready with the O and one no runs five hits and no errors for the Yankees so far and he misses two and one great chance right here as a hitter to be really good at a hitter to be really aggressive with two guys already on pretty good shot. He's going to get a challenge pitch right here. The set and the two and one on the third base line field cleanly throw on the first and a Yankee threat goes by the boards as the inning is over Yanks strand of pair on to the bottom of the fourth now still with no score. And next it'll be the Tigers clean up hitter Nico Goodrum elite things off once Garrett Cole to deliver here's the first pitch swinging a hard liner to center field Gardner is right there one down jumped all over that first pitch of the inning and he didn't miss it just wasn't able to steer it in a direction that resulted in a lead off hit at the plate Austin Romine comes into this at bat 0 for one in the ball game. First pitch of the at bat in its way one strike now from Cole swaying and a miss on the slider and he's quickly behind nothing in two pitching has the upper hand early as we're scoreless in inning number four fastball strike three called as he couldn't pull the trigger and there are two away. Well that call looked like it was a little in a pitcher's favor but it wasn't outrageous hey listen calling balls and strikes is a really tough job and even the best are going to miss some from time to time especially when they're not going to get that borderline like that last one not sure the hitter would want to hear that though. Here's Jordy Mercer now as the first pitchers have been high it's ball one Mercer is a middle infielder by trade of course usually a shortstop but they've got him at second base in this one. Yeah Maddy this guy's got some of the best hands in the game it doesn't matter shortstop second base could pretty much put him wherever you want the infield premium defender up the middle defender looks to help him out the way he can to out nobody on too high and it's three and oh yeah he's all over the place right now no doubt he's clearly fighting his mechanics 3 0 you maybe get two pitches a game where all the guesswork goes out the window this is certainly that situation Cole has his target trying to work it full on three and one hit hard on the ground at first scooped up and he'll step on the bag himself and the inning is over down in order go the Tigers through four still tied nothing nothing welcome back Heidi Watney standing by as we get set for the top of the fifth thanks Matt I talked with the Yankees manager Aaron Boone during the break about the team's offensive performance so far and he was very pleased with how little they're swinging and missing right now he said he's really proud of the fact that they've only gone down on strikes once in the game all while averaging over a base hit if that kind of combination continues he thinks there's a lot more to look forward to good stuff Heidi thanks so striding in Tyler Wayne he'll start off the fifth in this one first pitch of the at bat now a ball lined to the left side foul and a pitch in the dirt as he lays off it's one and one one and two now hey that's a great job by the pitcher right there still on the strike with that get me over breaking ball and now we can get a little nastier with it in the dirt and driving that's a base hit in a center field and that's just another base hit in a long line of many seems like he's been pitching from the stretch the entire game but somehow he's still got a shutout going we'll see how long he can make this last to the plate now Brett Gardner as he pops the first pitch foul behind the plate a hidden two tries for him so far he's running there's a swing and a high deep drive headed for the right field corner and that nearly broke our scoreless tie instead it's a foul ball set to deliver on nothing in two here it comes and this is swung on and missed as Gardner's a strikeout victim one away didn't mess around much in that at bat down and no that was pretty impressive man I really like a pitcher that trust and works off his fastball right there he decided he didn't need to use anything else three straight heaters and go grab some bench the actions and they got him I think he was going first pitch first movement all the way and apparently the pitcher knew it to caught him leaning at the plate now Geo or Shella liner towards second and that'll get down for a two out single hey there's another base knock right there hitting streak now up to eight games yeah no doubt about eight games now we're starting to think about it a little bit you know you get past that week you just know you're locked in they start talking eight games now you're like I got a nice little hitting streak ball one to start the at bat hits this one hard the other way that's through and he's now two for three in this one and that runner will go no further than second as there are two aboard now and time will be called here as the pitching coach heads out to the mound and hopefully try and settle this guy down a bit Gary Sanchez as he lays off a fastball too low for ball one two men are on with two men out shot down the line but a foul ball one and one even at one and one the pitch no offer on that one two balls in a strike hit the other way out toward right field right fielder is on the run and he brings it down to end the inning as the go ahead run is left stranded we are in Motown but I don't think we'll be seeing any of these people dancing in a soul review tonight back with more of this Thursday afternoon business person special following this back from Comerica Park in Detroit as we send it down to Heidi Watney thanks Matt I talked with Tigers manager Ron Garden higher during the break about the team's offensive performance so far and he told me he feels like they're being too patient at the plate right now he said the problem is they're allowing themselves to fall behind in the count way too often which is forcing them to constantly be in protect mode and swing at bad pitches a lot of their outs have come from at bats where they've fallen behind so the focus going forward needs to be about being the aggressor early in the at bats thank you Heidi the right field number 14 first pitch on its way Kristen Stewart is in for the second time here as he looks at a ball high one and oh the pitch try to hold back to swing but it'll do so unsuccessfully as that's ruled a strike and he takes ball two and it's two and one two and two still hang in with him another good swing to keep it going two to one more time is fastball down below the knees well that sets up a big pitch right here Matt because you don't want to lose the lead off guy in a scoreless game it's tough to work around a lead off walk a little roller toward the hole and it eats him up a bit and he'll flip it to the pitcher covering for the out well if you're going to bother the ball you have to hope it's when a guy is lumbering down the base pass he's no speedster so that was a good job to stay calm and make the recovery throw one out now here in the tiger fifth inning and into bad next it'll be Jamer Candelario here's the first pitch to him out of play off to the right bases are empty one man out here's one that misses high it's one and one ballman two strikes ball in two strikes here's the pitch swing and a miss as he ran that to seem a right buy him for the second out good job of making him chase a pitch for the strike out there. Yeah Matt that's the advantage of getting ahead of account. You can really force itters to expand their zone protect and when they're in that mode getting them to go after a pitch they can't do much with. It becomes a lot easier into the box. Travis do merit as the first pitch to him is taken low and away for ball one all for one after he took a look at strike three in his first plate appearance. Paul gets the sign. Here's the 1 0 and he falls behind now 2 and 0. It's never advantageous to fall behind 2 and 0 as a pitcher but if you're going to do it it's far better to do it with a guy down in the bottom of the order. Time for a challenge fast ball right here though. And here's a slider for a cold strike. Nasty 2 0 slider right there for a strike. No shame in tipping your hat and not an easy pitch to lay off of but he did somehow and he's got it to three and one. This is a good at bat so far here with two away. If you're going to go down one two three at least make the guy work for it. He's doing that and he's even got himself into a good hitters count now and he takes ball four so a good job out of the nine hole in the top of the order. They're getting on base as we go back to the top of the order. Well they've been unable to get to this guy so they'll take base runners any way they can get him at the very least you make him work from the stretch and add to his pitch total. Now back to the top of the lineup stepping in Victor Reyes has gone down on strikes twice already in this one and Dan when you know you have a chance to hand someone a hat trick for the game is there any extra motivation to punch him out again. Hey there's no doubt about that. You punched him out twice already. You just want to continue to go out there and make good pitches and see if you can't dominate him for a third time lifted the other way left center after it is Gardner. He gets there to make the catch and that ends the inning. Tigers leave one six then and coming up still zip zip top half of the sixth about to get started. So stepping in my talkman last time through was a base hit and he comes the first pitch and this is off the corner and low one. Hey this one's tied late in the game as a pitcher right now you just can't lay a cookie in there. Want to know well hit the other way and it's into the gap legs churning he's headed for second. The Yankees are in business here. It's a lead off double. This is a great way to start getting now the go ahead run is on second base hit away you know it's only the sixth inning but you'd love to claim the lead right now and let your bullpen carry the load the rest of the way. Taurus as he'll send a ground ball down to third and the third to first is in time one gun. Now that the first ready for another shot now Mike Ford 0 4 2 on his line thus far. Here's the first offering fastball taken but that gets righty starting to loosen now in the bullpen and a runner on second base not surprised he's laid on a heater right there just saw an off speed pitch want to stay back a little bit too long often in the air out toward right center long run for the right fielder he's got it a nice play there to away and that'll bring up Miguel and do harm and it looks like they'd rather go after the next guy is the intentional walk signal comes here with two away. That's what's called getting the treatment. He knows he's a power threat with the bat so it's all about not letting him be the guy that beats you coming to the plate now Tyler Wayne to see if he can come through in a clutch spot here two on two out here in inning number six first delivery to him on the way. Well the Yankees have been searching for that big hit pretty much all game it remains to see if they can get it but now it sure would be a good time. Here's the 1 0 on the ground out to second taken in by Mercer on the second for the foreshad and the side is retired. Yanks strand a pair still no score. Next to the plate for the Tigers the D.H. Harold Castro he'll start things out here in a tie ball game now the pitch hey this isn't exactly the way you'd like to draw it up not throwing a lot of first pitch strikes but the bottom line is he's getting out there at the knees 0 and 2 now your idea of working account goes out the window you're frustrated right now down 0 2 got to find the way to grind that misses one and two looking to punch him out again the pitch and he struck him out good pitch there as he registers his eighth punch out of the ball game I'll tell you he looks really dialed in on the bump right there he's got a shutout going and he really seems to have this lineup off balance even when he challenges them up in the zone they don't have an answer for it and that'll bring up the veteran Miguel Cabrera as the first pitch to him is in there for a called strike one he's working on a one for two game so far high in the air down the right field line and that's in there base hit there's a bullet off the wall and I'll feel it does a really good job getting that one in quickly but I think they had to play there at second base yeah I'm not sure what's going on there Dan I got to believe you're busting it out of the box thinking to until somebody tells you no I know it would have been a close play but I think you got to err on the aggressive side right there comes on with one gone here as he looks at a cold strike one below the zone is swinging a miss good thing he didn't make contact with that pitch only he could do is probably hit that on the ground it could be a double play ball nothing in two count and the pitch struck him out and he becomes the ninth strikeout victim thus far boy he's just been setting him up and knocking him down all afternoon we've seen a lot of punch outs from here where he didn't get much resistance three pitches right there and see you later so now to the plate Austin Romine as the first pitch misses to him it's ball one Oh for two from him so far in this one just a bit high with the fastball but didn't get the call too tight with that one three and oh Jordy Mercer would be next if they can keep this ending alive that one's in there three and one got to believe he had the green light in that situation two outs three oh count this guy can certainly handle the bat that's a perfect situation to let him loose but I love the fact that he's key holding a certain area and it wasn't what he was looking for and that misses ball four so it's first and second now with two out well they struggled offensively in this one so far but after that walk they got runners at first and second and look ready to make a little noise just need a big hit now big spot here first and second two men gone and that'll bring in the Oklahoma State product Jordy Mercer that cheers the pitch one and one that's what you call a challenge fastball right there boys I don't know if he was necessarily trying to miss up in his own like he did but he got away with it right there and put the fastball by him hopped him up in comes judge he can't get there so the inning will continue and they'll put the brakes on that runner third and that means the bases are loaded now with two away Kristen Stewart as he would look at a first pitch fastball for ball one 0 for two for him to this point and 2 1 0 now it often becomes harder to hit the zone when the pressure starts to heat up ready with the 2 0 taken and that one catches the bottom part of the strike zone you fight so hard to get into these type of counts you can't let this pitch get away from you you have to keyhole something middle of the plate he founds this one off two out bases loaded strike him out 10 now in the ballgame and the ending is over so the Tigers leave them loaded and this is still a nothing nothing ball game so back to the top of the Yankee order digging in Brett Gardner he'll start the seventh and Dan is a former pitcher yourself he must be enjoying this lots of good pitching and defense today well that's one of the keys we're seeing a lot of strikes we're seeing a lot of swings we're seeing some great plays on defense this has been a snappy one up to this point first pitch hack in here and that's the first strike pulled toward right center field back goes to Merritt he gets there and makes the play for the first out ready once again Geo or Shella he steps in off a base hit in his last bat yeah Matty pressures off right now he extended his hitting streak that last played appearance now he gets to get back into his own work on his craft and try and drive something again I know it's cliche and it's tired at times but a well located fastball down at the knees is still the best pitch in the game but a fastball just off the black and it's even at one high fly ball out to straight away center de Merritt is camped under this one to God the number ninety nine Aaron stepping into the box Aaron judge he singled his last time up ready with the first pitch here it comes big slow breaking ball that drops in for a strike to start him out it's nothing in one and he misses with it one and one very impressive outing so far as command has been spot on even when he misses his spot it isn't out over the hard to play he's throwing quality punches bases are empty here with two men out no offer on that one two balls and a strike that's a good take on a fast ball out of the zone hey I get it he's looking for a ball to drive but that ball was a little bit too far up in the zone that's one you normally pop right up here now the two two hit sharply toward the right side Stuart is there and he'll make the catch to retire the side one two three go to bombers we are still scoreless next up for Detroit Jaimer Candelaria he struck out swinging in his last trip to play not sure if this is a powerhouse pitching performance by both teams or bad hitting but as we're moving late into this one it's about time somebody put something together to try to score a run wind up here comes the 0 and 1 fouled away protecting on 0 and 2 so we'll do it again just hung in there on that one another 0 2 change up laid off down around the shins well pitch count will become a factor here in the seventh he's about to hit 100 for the game yeah Matty V that magic number in today's game is about 100 pitches in this next pitch will be pitch number 100 Dero he's been sailing along pretty easily so far in this one yeah he's given him some serious depth in this one for him to get into the seventh inning allows the manager a lot of leeway whether he wants to go to his bullpen or not look out that one almost got away from him two and two now finally just wear him down as this one swung on and missed for the first hour when you're this deep into a start it can be really exhausting and annoying when a hitter makes your work as hard as he did right there he got the strikeout that's great but he's probably thinking get that guy out of here now Travis to merit as we're one away he can't make contact on the first pitch it's strike one it was a walk in his last trip swing and a miss on the slider and he's quickly behind nothing in two his command has been outstanding so far hitting nearly all of the spots and that's been a big factor why he's been so successful up to this point into the wind up here comes the O2 pitch hit hard to the right but foul he was looking for a swing and a miss breaker right there but left that one in his own and it got fouled off the O2 once more I think after that foul away this pitcher can go almost anywhere he wants that pitch was way off the plate and off speed I'm surprised he even offered it that one he's just rolling right now and even doesn't strikeouts for him in the ballgame that was a big strikeout there guys the best pitchers have the ability to strike guys out when they really need to and that's second out what's really important at this point of the game could be something we look back on later when the game's over at the plate now Victor Reyes batting left handed here as he takes a look at strike one he could really use a knock here over three in the game so far it's fouled away two out nobody on he's got another one thirteen strikeouts now and the ending is over three up three down three strikeouts not too shabby back with more of this Thursday afternoon business special following this striding in once again Gary Sanchez will start us off in the eighth year starting to run out of time they haven't been able to score any runs as we're moving late into this one a perfect time for this leadoff guy to try to get on base and ignite a rally he's ready here's the first offering sends that one out of play for strike one fly ball out toward left center field and the merit will be there to make the play for the first out trying to pick things up where we left off Mike Tuckman he'll try to follow up the double in his last at bat with another big hit right here strike taken as the curve ball drops into the bottom part of the zone that's a tough pitch right there curveball kind of front hit your first move is to bail a little bit kind of not want to get hit by that pitch I can totally understand him taking that first strike back to swing there and did he go no he did not well above the letters with the fastball that time when you're playing close games like this base runners mean everything so he can ill afford to start giving away free passes there's a swing and a drive hit well out to right field and that is off the wall in the second base with one away is the go ahead run wow he was willing that thing to get out of here would have given them the lead right here late in the game but it ends up hitting off the wall and he heads into second with an extra base in we'll see if the next man up can come through in the clutch here now here comes run garden higher up out of the dugout and we're going to have a pitching change is that's going to be all for his starter this afternoon he departs in a tie ball game but is responsible for that runner at second so the best he can hope for is a no decision here gets the call as he'll pitch with one gone in the top of the eighth look at ball one he's got a hidden three at bats to this point ready with the 1 0 how to play off to the right it's one and one you're lucky if you get one pitch a night right down the middle cannot be laid on that fastball one and one here it comes it runs in scoring position here with one away into the corner and slicing foul got him swinging chased it well out of the zone and there are two gone well his struggles continue it's been a rough moment at the plate with him and watching this at bat it's clear to me that his rhythm and timing they're just all off even as a pitcher like I was you can tell these things and exploit the box now Mike Ford let's take a look at a curveball that misses wide for ball one he's hit listen three at bats to this point the set and the 1 0 now you can see he's working around this guy right here why not first base is open walk wouldn't be the worst thing in this spot it runs in scoring position here with two down Miguel Andujar would be next no here it is that one's in there three and one and it's up to a three to full count now that's the exact spot to lean on as a reliever as a hitter you just have to tip your cap and look for the next one pulled toward right center field back goes to Merritt he won't have a play and they should finally get him on the board as he arrives at second without a play as a run is also win and with it they take the lead for those have to feel really good Dero you get late the game you come up with a big RBI base hit right here to give your team the lead yeah no one remembers that ground ball with thighs in the top of the second inning you want to show up when the game is on the line can you quiet your emotions down take the crowd out of it and slow yourself down enough to come through and that's exactly what he did and it looks like they'd rather go after the next guys the intentional walk signal comes here with two away settling in now Tyler Wayne in a big at bat in this one two on two away here in the eighth looking to keep this one run game the pitch there are a couple of points in every game that could decide winning or losing this is one of those critical spots time to make some great pitches two down runners at first and second and he watches one miss outside 2 1 0 now got to find a way to execute either a good fastball down the way or flip something off speed for a strike you cannot miss over the harder plate in these situations the hitter is on high alert on the ground back up the box and it'll get through into center field a base head he'll come home with it offline so the run will score boy I'd say what that's a big RBI late in game here they take it to lead the roadway the pitching has been for them tonight right they're sitting at a pretty good spot yeah Dan they've gotten great pitching all game long and all that extra run can do was give you a little bit more confidence you don't have to pitch with such tension out there fearful of making one mistake at the plate Brett Gardner as he lines it hard to the right side but out of play he comes into this appearance in the midst of a one for four day you didn't get on top of there it's one and one he's not having his best outing in this one I think that curveball is part of the reason why he couldn't get on top of that one and that's not the first time that's happened the one and one pitch this one to right field and deep off the batter Gardner racing back the right fielder see you later over the wall a home run so it's a three run shot to straight away right field home run number five on the year and that'll stake the Yankees to a five nothing lead now hey in today's game of extreme velocity if you have mediocre stuff you cannot miss over the heart of the plate you have to nibble at the corners he wasn't able to do that he paid the ultimate price Roni Garcia enters the ballgame out of the pen looking for the final out here in the top of ending number eight Geo or Shella this he'll watch a slider that runs out of the strike zone away for ball one and that pitch misses in the dirt and it's two and oh now it's a lot easier to hit when you're putting yourself in good hitters counts this guy's done a great job not swinging at pitchers pitches and when he's getting the ball in his own he's getting the barrel to it he's been hot lately grounded to short right to him throwing the dirt but a good scoop at first saves an error as this side is retired but not before five crossed the plate with the big blow being this third run homerun on now to the bottom of ending number eight five nothing New York stradding forward now is the DH Harold Castro he starts off the inning against a guy who struck out the side last inning how do they get to him here I'm not sure Matt that they want to stay as patient he's been throwing a lot of strikes they might want to start swinging a little bit earlier in the count first pitch of the at bat turned on but it's wide of first and foul bouncer up the middle or as brings it in and there's one away next for the Tigers Miguel Cabrera he's two for three thus far first pitch on its way tough spot in the game right here you have a very close call that doesn't go your way this is what you have to really regroup as a pitcher and go out there and try to make quality pitches to an old to tight with that one three and oh Nico Goodrum is on deck one out nobody on and a home not so fast partnered called strike on the inside part of the plate three and one now and Cabrera watches it missed so he'll head to first with a base on balls now that not shortstop into the box now Nico Goodrum and after that quick walk is it fair to wonder if this starter is beginning to show signs of getting tired yeah that could be the case Maddy sometimes you just lose your focus lose your command but it'll be real important for him to get it back as this next hitter walks up to the plate he's set and the pitch starts him out with a slider for a strike here's one that misses high it's one and one set to deliver pitch number 120 looked like he tried to pull it there but he swings right through the fastball struck him out and make it 14 punch outs now in the game Matt just about everything he's doing is working all this pitches great command great location in the big key with two strikes he's attacking the zone so now to the plate Austin Romain as he takes a fastball off the plate for a ball one and oh pole sets and delivers well should be two and oh but he goes way out of the zone to go after that one and it's even one and one you see that swing right there you know what that tells me boys that this pitcher is doing his job right here but also the offense is obviously not picking anything up today now the one and one pitch swung on but it's pulled foul wide a third he's got that certainly timed up now I'd be shocked if the pitcher goes to the well three times in a row with off speed lifted down the line in left and they can't run it down he lays off it to even the count two and two and it's late to his afternoon of work and the longer this at bat goes the better chance of him making a mistake but as a guy starts to tire they're more likely to leave the ball up but man he's been good so far won't commit on the slider good patience and it's full three and two what we're seeing here is a really smart at bat they got to be thinking the man on the mound is getting a little short on gas so wouldn't you go up there and make him throw a bunch of pitches you're more likely to get a good pitch to hit or at least force him out of the game he's set here's the three and two and he's got another one fifteen strikeouts in the ball game and the side is retired one left for Detroit need to get it going soon it's five nothing now Aaron judge a couple of singles for him and four trips for in this afternoon here's the first pitch to him and we kick off the ninth inning with a swinging strike here nothing in one he's going to step out of the box adjust his batten gloves and pray he gets the exact same pitch as that one because if it comes again we like to refer to that one in the biz as a cement mixer swing and a ground ball to third what a stop on the slide which play to keep the leadoff man off base now that's Gary Sanchez the plate Gary Sanchez it was a flyout for him in his last trip almost Maddy almost went deep his last day be certainly just missed it with this guy's big power he's feeling pretty good at the dish look for him to try and get on something and drive it out of the yard this a big throw on the first takes care of him and the top of the ninth is proving unfruitful thus far too quick out here let you know Mike Striding into the box Mike Tuckman he came across to score after doubling in his last at back here's the first pitch to him fastball off the plate away for ball one one and one the count now look like he was cheating a heater right there a little bit too far out in front got to find a way to keep his hands back and a good eyes he lays off and the count moves to two and one now on the Yankee left fielder hit to short he has some trouble with it and the throw pulls the first baseman off the bag and he's safe at first infielders are talking the time they hold the glove that you've got to play the ball and not let the ball play you you can see here that this one just ate him up and he couldn't recover in time runner at first following the error and stepping up as the shortstop Torrez is ready here's the first offering to out with the man at first and here's a fastball that's going nowhere near the zone it's two and oh now well both of those balls have been inside so if I'm heading I'm looking for something I could get my arms extended on probably won't come back inside for a third time and there's ball three and there's a strike as he'll try to work his way back it's three and one hitters count all the way here it comes strike two is the fastball does let go three to two out runner on this pitch lots of possible outcomes on this pitch fouled off pay off pitch one more time and there's strike three so we'll see now if they can manage to hold on to this huge lead as the side is retired Yanks leave one but they hold a five nothing lead shot green right handed reliever standing six three gets the ball now out of the bullpen now to the plate Jordy Mercer and then what's gone wrong for this lineup today they're only three outs away from being shut out boy you know I just haven't seen a lot of fight in these at bats now of course plenty of credit goes to that pitching but the effort on the offensive side has been pretty lethargic watching from up here in the booth Matt yeah I would imagine it feels the same from watching in the stands in this one first pitch of the at bat on its way pretty good pitch right there fastball in off to play one of the things you want to do as a pitcher try to stand those hitters up and two and oh now as this misses below the knees and that catches the outside corner it's two and one now here's the pitch and here's a fastball taken too low and he works the count to three and one now this is a lead off at bat great patience and he's just waiting for that pitch that's too good to pass up set here's the three one and could this be the start it's a long way back but the lead off man is on base to start their final set of at bats well they haven't been able to scratch a run across yet so maybe this walk will jump start their offense a little bit at the plate Kristen Stewart he was punched out looking at strike three last time through yeah Maddie that was a tough strike out a big strike out in this game to if you think back there were two guys in scoring position so he has to be looking for much more out of the way they be this time that was a pretty good fastball after he walked the hitter previous there was little angry on that heater a runner at first with no outs here a fastball here not close and it's one and one now and it looks like the Yankees will have a left hander up and throwing in the bullpen the one one takes a pass and misses that strike to the one to nobody out runner on first and that's into the corner of foul ball and right he struck him out the third time he's fanned in the game that was some nice execution on that pitch spotted it nicely down around the bottom of the zone and when you do that especially with two strikes not a lot of guys are going to hurt you you're going to get a lot of ground balls and swings and misses down there at the plate now Jimer Candelario as he will swing at the first pitch and line this one into left center and that's going to get down for extra bases and this will find the wall out near the visitor's bullpen in the score is the runner from first never say never in this game folks it's late and the clock is taking but that RBI double might start making believers out of the entire dugout we'll see if they can build on it and maybe get back into this thing digging in Travis Dumerant he's offered to in the ballgame so far to him on the way a ball of no strikes you know in this situation you almost have to pitch like there's no one on base that run really doesn't mean anything with the lead they've got the hitter is the guy that can turn this game on its head two and oh now this inning really feels like it's getting away from him out there as a reliever you can't let that happen nothing you can do about what's already happened and it's only going to get worse if you're not focusing on the guy in the batter's box runner at second here with one man out there a little doubt about that one that's in there and it's two and one this is going to be an interesting at bat I think he has to be pitching for a strike out here so we'll see what kind of sequence he uses up and in here as he had to bend out of danger Victor Reyes is on deck three and one pitch strike two swinging struck him out struck him out again I should say his third punch and he's got a good game so the batting order turns over now and set to go Victor Reyes and he needs to make something happen they're down to their final out here in the ninth comes set here's the nothing and nothing pitch and he lays off their one and oh hard hit toward the hole and he can't pick it up cleanly throw on to first and the Yankees have taken the finale here they win the series three games to one as the ballgame is over you might think it's just another win but it's awfully hard to win in this game especially on the road but they find a way to get it done and they should be very happy with this performance five to one the final total in today's game the Yankees used a huge eighth inning to help secure the win Garrett Cole with his fourth win this season with 15 strikeouts Jordan Zimmerman to settle with the loss after giving up only one earned so it for Mark DeRosa Dan please act Heidi Watney and our entire crew I'm Matt Vaskers and you've been watching MLB the show for more make your way over to the show nation dot com