Aníbal Sánchez Is Downright Dirty In Victory, Tigers Keep Pace With White Sox

Published by Alexandra Simon on September 15, 2012 | Leave a response

Aníbal Sánchez paced the Tigers with 6.2 innings of 3 hit, 7 strikeout ball, and the Tigers offense did enough—even though they actually had a run taken off the board!—as the team kept pace in the AL Central division race.

Sánchez, in what may have been his best start as a Tiger, lost his bid for a no hitter on a deep Carlos Santana fly ball to right center that ended up going for a triple. He later allowed a couple runs in the seventh, before being lifted for lefty Phil Coke. Coke struck out Matt LaPorta, the pinch hitter, to preserve the lead.

More after the jump

Joaquín Benoit came into the game in the eighth and got himself into a bit of trouble. Benoit gave up a run on two hits before getting out of the inning, and preventing further damage. The Indians did not threaten again, as José Valverde nailed down the victory with a perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning.

As the Chicago White Sox won earlier in the day, the Tigers don’t lose any ground in the race for the AL Central. The two teams remain one game apart heading into Sunday’s action. The Tigers will pit Rick Porcello against Ubaldo Jimenez, while Chicago will send out Jake Peavy to face the Minnesota Twins and Scott Diamond. Both Detroit and Chicago will be going for three-game sweeps prior to their rain delay makeup on Monday.

  • In an odd moment to end the fifth inning, Alex Avila missed third base while attempting to score on Quintin Berry’s single. Quintin Berry, who reached second base, then attempted to be caught stealing at third base in order to end the inning and prevent Cleveland from appealing the play, but the Indians successfully appealed. You could say the Indians “took it off the board,” ha ha. I’m sorry. I’ll show myself out.
  • After a sixth inning homerun, Miguel Cabrera is now just one shy of his career high in homeruns, which 38. He has a legitimate shot at 40 homeruns this year.
  • Justin Masterson had an odd start. Eight strikeouts and four walks through 4.2. Also, shadows.
  • Sánchez had his fifth solid start in a row after a string of about four mediocre starts to start his Tigers career.
  • Sánchez already has a no-hitter in his career, which came September 6, 2006. Sánchez’ Marlins team set a record for most rookies to play for the winning team in a no-hitter, with six.
  • Sánchez also took a no-hitter into the ninth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on April 22, 2011. He lost it on a hit to Dexter Fowler. He later finished the game for his fourth career complete game.
  • José Valverde pitched another strong ninth inning as he racked up the save. He’s been quite good in the second half, and especially in the last month or so.
  • Tigers win! Tigers win!

    ETA

    I apologize for changing the title, and especially to that, but I’m very immature and I will use almost any excuse to show it.

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