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Sabathia tries to lucky win No. 7 in test with Tigers

Jun 1, 2012 - 2:49 PM (Sports Network) - CC Sabathia goes after win No. 7 this evening when the New York Yankees open a three-game set with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Sabathia avoided his third straight loss on Saturday in Oakland, as he limited the Athletics to a pair of runs and seven hits in seven innings to improve to 6-2 on the year, while lowering his earned run average to 3.66.

"[My] command got a little off and [the] fastball command wasn't there, so I was just trying to make some pitches and stay behind the ball," Sabathia said. "I was able to get it back later in the game."

Sabathia beat the Tigers earlier in the year and is 16-12 lifetime against them with a 4.46 ERA in 33 starts. However, he is 0-3 in the regular season at Comerica Park since joining the Yankees.

The Yankees are in the midst of what has been a successful nine-game road trip, as they have won four of six thus far, including a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday.

New York continues to falter with runners in scoring position and is batting a mere .152 (21-for-138) in those situations since May 13.

That could change tonight, as the Yankees go up against lefty Casey Crosby, who will be making his major league debut in place of the injured Doug Fister. Crosby had been 4-2 with a 4.26 ERA in nine starts with Triple-A Toledo.

Opponents hit just .191 against him in May, and he has not lost since April 15, going 4-0 in his past seven starts. He struck out 10 batters over seven innings of three-run ball his last time out.

Fister was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with the same left side strain that kept him out of action for a month earlier this season.

Detroit avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, as Max Scherzer gave them six-plus solid innings in a 7-3 win.

Scherzer (5-3) allowed three runs on seven hits, but only of those hits came after the third. He also struck out six and walked two in the win.

"He really pitched well," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "He did a good job against a team that's really playing well now ... so it's a good win for us."

Quintin Berry led the charge for Detroit, filling up the box score with three hits, two runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases.

New York took two of three from the Tigers earlier in the season.