NEW YORK -- Nearly three weeks after the Tigers called up Clay Rapada, they have an order to how to take advantage of their two-lefty bullpen. Through two games against the Yankees, they've shown that having the extra southpaw in the 'pen has benefits.

Both the young Rapada and the veteran Bobby Seay have shown a talent for retiring left-handed hitters, but the difference for the Tigers recently has been the ability to use both in big situations without letting the other go to waste. That could come up big again Thursday as the Tigers try to close out their time at Yankee Stadium with their first three-game series sweep here since 1966.

"I definitely think he's pushing the right buttons," Rapada said of manager Jim Leyland. "I think that he's using us to our capability. Obviously, we're all competitive, and we all think that we can do the job. But his job's to put us where we need to be, to be effective. I feel like he's done a heckuva job."

In Tuesday's series opener, Leyland followed up left-handed starter Kenny Rogers with another lefty in Seay. However, he used him to the start the inning against the right-handed hitting Derek Jeter. Though Jeter was 9-for-24 against left-handed pitchers this season heading into that at-bat, Leyland didn't want to waste a right-handed reliever for one batter before going to Seay for the back-to-back left-handed hitters that followed. Plus, Seay has had some decent success against right-handed hitters this year.

Seay disposed of Jeter in three pitches with a strikeout, then worked his way through the rest of the inning. He gave way to setup man Denny Bautista for the eighth, but Leyland had Rapada in reserve.

Leyland didn't want to use Rapada, because he knew the side-arming lefty could play a big role Wednesday against a predominantly left-handed lineup, and the Yankees could get a look at his delivery. When Bautista walked the bases loaded and hit Jeter to drive in a run, however, Leyland went to Rapada to retire Bobby Abreu on an inning-ending grounder to third.

"It was my first crunch-time [appearance]," Rapada said. "In New York City. No bigger stage."

Because Rapada had thrown just two pitches to get the out, he was still available for Wednesday. Once Abreu came up in the eighth inning with a runner on and two out, back came Rapada to relieve starter Jeremy Bonderman. Again, Abreu grounded out.

With a four-run lead, Rapada went on to retire the side in order in the ninth. And Seay will be available for Thursday with a day's rest.

"That way, you don't always have to save your lone left-hander," Seay said. "In that way, having a second lefty makes a lot of sense."

It's something the Tigers haven't had much in recent years. As effective as Jamie Walker was during his time in Detroit, he was often the only left-hander in the bullpen. The Tigers ran through several lefties trying to find another for the bullpen, but no one seemed to stick. Even Seay didn't emerge until last year, after Walker had left as a free agent.

Though the Tigers will send out another lefty starter with Nate Robertson, Tuesday's game showed how important the left side of relief can be against this Yankees lineup, especially with right-handed weapon Alex Rodriguez and switch-hitting Jorge Posada out. That won't change after the Tigers leave New York for Minnesota, where Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau form one of the best left-handed-hitting duos in baseball. From there, the Tigers return home for four games against David Ortiz and the Red Sox before the Yankees head to Detroit for a rematch.

Pitching matchup
DET: LHP Nate Robertson (0-3, 6.91 ERA)
Not only is Robertson winless for the season overall, he's winless for his career at Yankee Stadium. This will likely be his last chance to take care of the latter with the ballpark in its final year. Robertson showed progress in his last start against an Angels team that normally can hurt him. A four-run fourth inning, paced by a Vladimir Guerrero two-run homer, proved to be his downfall, but he lasted seven innings while throwing just 89 pitches.

NYY: RHP Ian Kennedy (0-2, 8.53 ERA)
Like Robertson, Kennedy just finished up a winless April, but his struggles have statistically been worse. He has one quality start in his four outings, and command woes have sent his pitch counts up in a hurry. He threw 105 pitches over five innings in his last outing at Cleveland, allowing three runs on four hits with four walks.

Tidbits
Brandon Inge will make his fourth start of the season behind the plate, giving Ivan Rodriguez a night off. It'll be Inge's first time catching Robertson in a regular-season game since 2004. ... Reliever Francisco Cruceta is scheduled to arrive in New York in time for Thursday's game. The Tigers will activate the right-hander from Major League Baseball's restricted list in time for the contest. His first appearance with the Tigers will be his first appearance in the Majors since 2006 with Seattle. ... The Tigers lead the Majors with 17 home runs of their last nine games.

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Up next
• Friday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 2-0, 1.50) at Twins (Livan Hernandez, 3-1, 5.05), 8:10 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 1-4, 6.50) at Twins (Scott Baker, 2-0, 4.50), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Tigers (Kenny Rogers, 2-3, 6.75) at Twins (Boof Bonser, 2-4, 3.75), 2:10 p.m. ET