Miguel Cabrera continues to own CC Sabathia. Cabrera's single to start the top of the second inning now gives him eight hits in 14 career at bats (.571) against Sabathia. Cabrera would eventually come around to score on a sac-fly from Jhonny Peralta, following a single (to shortstop) from Victor Martinez and a walk drawn by Ryan Raburn. Good baserunning from Victor Martinez on Peralta's sac-fly allowed him to get to third base with less than two outs.
Unfortunately, Sabathia was able to get out of the early jam and strand runners at the corners by forcing Brandon Inge to line out to second base and striking out Alex Avila. Avila looked awful on an 0-2, high, inside fastball.
Sabathia is now up to 36 pitches through his first two innings of work.
Verlander followed up his laborious first inning needing just 13 pitches to set down Swisher (fly out to left), Posada (fly out to left), and Granderson (strike out). Verlander has three strike outs in the first two innings (at 44 pitches).
Tigers lead 1-0 heading into the top half of the third.