Yankees 7, Tigers 0: CC Sabathia outdueled Justin Verlander and Jayson Nix homered as visiting New York blanked Detroit to avoid a three-game sweep.

Francisco Cervelli and Kevin Youkilis each added two RBIs for the Yankees, who had to win the series finale in each of their first two series to avoid a sweep.

Verlander (1-1) ran into trouble only once in a three-run second inning and scattered seven hits over 7 1/3 innings while walking a pair and striking out four for the Tigers. Fellow former Cy Young winner Sabathia (1-1) was better, allowing four hits while walking three and striking out four in seven frames.

Cervelli sent an RBI double into the gap in left-center to get New York on the board in the second. Nix followed and got a 2-1 changeup from Verlander that he turned around on a line over the bullpen in left-center to make it a 3-0 lead.

The Yankees got to left-hander Phil Coke for two more runs in the eighth and tacked on two more in the ninth to put the game away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Tigers 1B Prince Fielder had seven RBIs in the first two games of the series but went 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts on Sunday. … Youkilis doubled in the first and has hit safely in each of the first six games. He has an extra-base hit in five contests. … Detroit will get Monday off before hosting Toronto for a three-game set on Tuesday. The Yankees will open a series at Cleveland on Monday.