The Yankees have loaded the bases three times in six innings, but have failed to score any runs. Detroit, on the other hand, took advantage of its run-scoring oppotunity.
Doug Fister settled down after being hit in the wrist by Robinson Cano. The Tigers starter tossed perfect frames in the fourth and fifth inning while being much more efficient with his pitches. Fister threw 47 pitches in the first two innings, but only threw 30 pitches over the next three innings.
Andy Pettitte pitched effectively in the fourth and fifth as well; he gave up a single in each inning, but both times the Tiger's base-runner did not advance to scoring position. The Tigers' first strong scoring opportunity came in the top of the sixth, when Austin Jackson led off the inning with a triple. Omar Infante followed Jackson with a fly ball to right field, but it was hit too shallow to score Jackson. Joe Girardi then ordered an intentional walk of Miguel Cabrera, which brought Prince Fielder to the plate with runners on the corners and one out.
Fielder put the Tigers on the board first, smacking a single up the middle and collecting an RBI. Delmon Young came to the plate next, and hit a shallow fly ball to right. Swisher was positioned deep, and could not reach the ball before it fell for a single, which allowed Miguel Cabrera to score from second.
Pettitte then walked Jhonny Peralta to load the bases with one out. The southpaw recovered, forcing the next two Detroit hitters to hit weak popouts to end the Tigers scoring threat.
New York tried to respond quickly after falling behind the Tigers. Mark Teixeira hit a grounder to Infante, who mishandled the ball, causing Teixeira to reach base on an error. Raul Ibanez then hit a high chopper down the first base line, which bounced over Fielder's head for a double. With two runners in scoring position, Alex Rodriguez struck out on three pitches for the first out of the inning.
Swisher followed Rodriguez with a walk, loading the bases for the third time against Fister. The Detroit right-hander, however, escaped his third bases-loaded jam of the game by fanning Curtis Granderson and Russell Martin.