Tigers finish sweep of the Yankees, 8-4

NEW YORK -- The last time the Detroit Tigers left Yankee Stadium with a three-game sweep, Al Kaline was playing the outfield and Denny McLain was on the mound.

Miguel Cabrera homered, tripled and drove in three runs and the Tigers defeated the Yankees, 8-4, Thursday night for their first three-game sweep in New York since 1966.

“That’s not going to happen very often,” Tigers Manager Jim Leyland said.

“You feel very fortunate here if you win two out of three. You feel OK if you win one out of three.”

Reserve infielder Ramon Santiago made the most of his first start at shortstop this season, turning in a key defensive play and hitting a tiebreaking triple to back Nate Robertson (1-3).

Magglio Ordonez had three hits -- including a two-run double off Ian Kennedy -- and scored twice for the Tigers, who got a strong effort from their bullpen and won for the eighth time in 10 games.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but we are playing better,” said Leyland, whose star-studded team opened 0-7. “I don’t think we’re over the hump yet.”