DETROIT, May 9 (UPI) -- Ivan Rodriguez drove in two runs Friday to help Detroit build a five-run lead and the Tigers held on to defeat the New York Yankees 6-5.
New York scored three times in the ninth inning before stranding the tying and go-ahead runs.
Detroit won for just the second time in eight games, but it was the Tigers' fourth straight victory over the Yankees.
Kenny Rogers (3-3) gave up two runs on nine hits in six-plus innings to get the win.
The loss went to Kei Igawa (0-1), who was brought up from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre before the game. In his season debut, Igawa gave up six runs on 11 hits in three-plus innings.
New York's Hideki Matsui went hitless in four at-bats to snap a career-best, 17-game hitting streak.
Rodriguez had a two-run double as part of a three-run third and the Tigers coasted into the ninth with a 6-2 advantage.
Todd Jones came in to work the ninth in a non-save situation and gave up three hits with two wild pitches. But with runners on first and second and two away, Jones got Shelly Duncan to fly out to center to end the game.