Yanks Ready For Sox By Taking Whoopin'

Placido Polanco went 3-for-5 with a home run and knocked in two runs, as the Detroit Tigers hammered the New York Yankees, 16-0, in the final contest of a four-game series at Comerica Park. Brandon Inge hit three doubles, scored twice and knocked in four runs while Curtis Granderson went 3-for-6 with two RBI for the Tigers, who have won two straight and trail Cleveland by 2 1/2 games in the AL Central. The Indians defeated Minnesota earlier on Monday. Detroit starter Justin Verlander (14-5) tossed seven shutout innings of three- hit ball while Ryan Raburn ended 2-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI in the victory for the Tigers, who pounded out 20 hits. Mike Mussina started for New York and lasted just three innings after allowing six runs on nine hits with a walk. Mussina (8-10) has now allowed at least six earned runs in his last three starts. Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez and Melky Cabrera had the only hits of the game for the Yankees, who have lost two straight and trail idle Boston by eight games in the AL East. New York also trails Seattle by 2 1/2 games in the AL wild card race. The Mariners are in action against the Angels. Detroit dominated the contest from the start, scoring at least a run in the first five innings. The Tigers loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with one out and managed to get one run home. Granderson started things with a single, stole second and moved to third on Polancos base hit. After a fielders choice by Marcus Thames, Magglio Ordonez drew a walk. A sacrifice fly by Carlos Guillen then plated Polanco for the first run of the game. Detroit added two runs in the second to increase its lead to 3-0. Sean Casey singled to start things and with two outs, Granderson doubled to right-center to plate Casey. Polanco then followed with a single up the middle to bring Granderson home. The Tigers tacked on three runs in the third to make it a six-run contest. A base hit by Ivan Rodriguez plated Guillen, who doubled with one out. With two down, Raburn singled home Rodriguez and a two-base hit from Inge scored Raburn to make it 6-0. Edwar Ramirez started the fourth inning for New York in relief of Mussina and was greeted by Polanco, who belted a home run to left for a seven-run advantage. Detroit continued to cushion its lead and went up 10-0 in the fifth. Casey tripled and pinch-runner Ramon Santiago scored on Raburns base hit off Sean Henn. Inge followed with a double and crossed the plate on Grandersons ground out to first. Polanco then walked and Inge scored on Thames single. In the seventh, Detroit loaded the bases and Henn issued a free pass to Raburn to force in a run while Inge cleared the bases with a double off the base of the wall in left. Inge scored later in the frame as Polanco reached base on Wilson Betemits fielding error while an RBI ground-rule double by Cameron Maybin made it 16-0. Game Notes Detroits 16 runs were a season high...Earlier on Monday, the Tigers placed slugger Gary Sheffield on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder prior to the game. The move is retroactive to August 22. To take his spot on the roster, Detroit recalled outfielder Timo Perez from Triple-A Toledo...Henn gave up nine runs -- seven earned -- on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings.