Verlander had the best spring of his career and kept it rolling against the Yankees, going six innings and allowing three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts and four walks, throwing 114 pitches. His one mistake was a three-run homer by Mark Teixeira in the third inning, but the Tigers still had a chance to win and Verlander wasn’t credited with the loss. That went to Phil Coke, who gave up a solo shot to Curtis Granderson in the seventh.
Sabathia slimmed down in order to improve his conditioning, which is wild when you consider that he has thrown at least 230 innings in each of the last four seasons, and last year he could have added a second Cy Young to the one he received in 2007 with Cleveland. The big lefty also lasted six innings after 106 pitches, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks, but never got the win as the score was tied when he left the game.
Both threw a lot of pitches in their first outing of the season, but it’s the first outing of the season and all things considered, both did very well. If not for that homer by Teixeira, Verlander may have been able to go another inning. Sabathia probably could have gone another inning or two, but manager Joe Girardi knows that they’ll need him later in the season, and he’s pitched a ton of innings in the last few years. Don’t be surprised to see either of these hurlers with the Cy Young award at the end of the season. [Rob Reed from Sylmar/CA] Replies: