The day after the Tigers and Yankees combined for 27 runs, only two were scored tonight at Tiger Stadium.
Both those runs were Detroit's, and they took a second straight game from the Yanks, 2-0.
Vern Ruhle (5-6) pitched a complete game, five-hit shutout in his first start in 10 days.
Dan Meyer had both Detroit RBI: on a ground out in the third inning and a single in the seventh.
The Tigers (25-35) have won four of their last six games.
"These games are more my speed," manager Ralph Houk said, referring to tonight's pitcher's duel in comparison to last night's slugfest.
Yankees lefty Rudy May pitched well (seven innings, two runs) but Ruhle was better.
"Vern was amazing," Houk said. "Especially when you thought he might be rusty."
Ruhle missed his last start with a "dead arm" and hadn't started since June 10.
"I felt refreshed," Ruhle said after the game, enjoying a cold can of beer while his pitching arm was being wrapped in ice. "Had all three pitches working. It was fun tonight."
Even with the paltry run support?
"Can't score 16 every night," Ruhle said, prompting laughter.
Gary Sutherland continued his torrid ways. Last night Sutherland was 4-for-4, and tonight he was 3-for-3. The 7-for-7 series has lifted his average to .332.
The Yanks managed to get four runners to second base, but Ruhle was in command all night. As a result, he tossed the Tigers' first complete game this season by anyone not named Mickey Lolich.
"I only walked one, and that is huge," Ruhle said. "I got ahead of hitters and that was key, too."
Notes: Mickey Stanley started at first base...Houk said that catcher Bill Freehan's back continues to tighten up on him every morning, making his return to the lineup unknown...May pitched well, but hit two batters and committed a balk...Sutherland is going so good that he was intentionally walked in the seventh inning. But the next batter, Meyer, delivered a run-scoring single.
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Tigers record: 25-35 (actual 26-34)
Home: 12-22
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
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