The Yankees mustered just one run while the bullpen allowed nine runs in New York's 11-1 loss to the Tigers at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.
New York has dropped the first two games of their series with Detroit after scoring a combined three runs. After the Blue Jays' loss to the Astros earlier in the evening, the Yankees remain 3.0 games behind Toronto in the AL East race.
Here are the takeaways…
–Carlos Rodon was on the mound, searching for his career-best 17th win of the season but he was in for a fight with fellow starter Jack Flaherty in this one. Rodon was pitch-efficient, allowing just two hits through the first four innings on just above 60 pitches. But the Tigers threatened after a one-out single and walk put two runners on. Rodon hit Javier Baez with a pitch to load the bases but struck out Jahmai Jones swinging to bring up Gleyber Torres. The former Yankee lined a 3-2 fastball in front of Trent Grisham in center to drive in two for Detroit. The Yankees' southpaw struck out Wenceel Perez swinging to get out of further trouble.
Rodon was very good, with just the one inning marring his line. The lefty allowed two runs in six innings (102 pitches/66 strikes), on five hits, one walk and six strikeouts.
-The Yankees bullpen, after allowing 10 runs in Tuesday's series opener, was not much better. Mark Leiter Jr, fresh off of allowing four runs without recording an out, gave up back-to-back singles to start the seventh. He then bounced a ball in the dirt that got stuck in catcher Austin Wells' chest protector, which was ruled a wild pitch. Leiter struck out Kerry Carpenter before being pulled for Camilo Doval. Doval got Torres to ground out, but the runner on third would score.
Doval would start the eighth, and after a leadoff single, Riley Greene took the right-hander deep to put the Tigers up 5-0. After picking up an out, Dillon Dingler doubled and advanced to third on a Cody Bellinger error in left field. Doval was lifted for Tim Hill, who allowed a single up the middle to allow the sixth run of the game. Two batters later, and Carpenter launched a two-out, two-run homer to put up a five-spot in the eighth.
Even Luke Weaver struggled, allowing three runs on three hits, capped off by a two-run homer from pinch-hitter Colt Keith. With the score ballooned to 11-1, outfielder Austin Slater came in to finish off the top half of the ninth. Slater allowed a hit but got the final two outs to mercifully get the game to the bottom of the ninth.
-On the other side, Flaherty kept the Yankees down through five innings, allowing just two hits and one walk. While not as efficient as Rodon, the Tigers' right-hander made pitches when needed to get outs, including seven strikeouts. Flaherty would pitch five shutout innings on 99 pitches (57 strikes).
-The Yankees offense was a no-show. Aaron Judge went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and grounded into two inning-ending double plays. Giancarlo Stanton, playing in right field, went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
The only run came on a Wells solo shot in the eighth inning. The backstop went 1-for-4.
Jose Caballero got the start in place of the struggling Anthony Volpe. The shortstop went 1-for-3 with a strikeout, but made some impressive plays on defense.
Game MVP: Tigers pitching
Whether it was Flaherty or the bullpen, Detroit's pitching held down the Yankees bats for a second consecutive game.
Highlights
Austin Wells homers to get the Yankees on the board pic.twitter.com/K35PQdXbdN
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) September 11, 2025
What's next
The Yankees and Tigers complete their three-game set on Thursday evening. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Cam Schlittler (2-3, 3.24 ERA) will take the mound. Detroit has yet to announce a starter.
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