MLB

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A three run fifth inning highlighted by a go ahead RBI double by Andy Dirks sends Detroit to an eventual 6-2 win over Houston. Detroit added two more in the sixth and a solo home run by Miguel Carbrera, his eight in the seventh inning. Doug Fister got the win pitching seven innings allowing two runs in the second inning and total of five hits. Houston has lost six straight games and 16 of 19. They have, however, turned a major league leading 54 double plays.

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A bad outing by Max Schertzer and another bullpen failure give Houston a 7-5 win over Detroit. Scherzer went seven innings allowing five runs on five hits and failed to hold a 4-1 lead as a result of a three run shot shot by Avisail Garcia to left center in the second. Garcia is filling for Austin Jackson who is on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Al Alburqueque took the loss giving up a tie breaking double to Carlos Corporan in the ninth.

Detroit came up just short in the bottom of the ninth when Miguel Cabrera's bid for a game winning grand slam home was caught at the base of the fence in right center field.

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Justin Verlander loses a 3-1 lead and fails to get out of the third inning in a 10-4 loss to Texas. Verlander allowed 8 runs on 6 hits and two walks. Texas got 7 runs in the third inning on a two run double by Mitch Moreland on an 0-2 slider up in the strike zone, a three run homer by Geovany Soto, and consecutive bases loaded walks. Verlander had previously allowed such occurances three times and was particularly wild in the third.

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Detroit wins a pitcher's duel with Texas 2-1 with Rick Porcello going 5 2/3 innings allowing one run, a leadoff home run by Geovany Soto in the fifth that went into the left field seats, on five hits. The only reason he went 5 2/3 innings was because the Rangers fouled off a lot of Porcello's pitches which were good location strikes.

Texas was 0-8 with runniers in scoring position, including a leadoff triple by Leonys Martin in the third who was stranded when Elvis Landrus lined to first and Leury Garcia looked at a third strike. Detroit turned two double plays - one in the fourth after leadoff singles by Lance Berkman and Adrian Beltre and the other in the eighth to escape and first and third jam.

Miguel led Detroit with three hits in four at atbats and scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Alex Avila.

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Anibal Sanchez gets shelled for six runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings in a 7-2 loss to Texas with pitch location being an obvious issue. Elvis Andrus led Texas with a 5-for-5 performance. Detroit has now lost 7 of its last 11 and dropped a full game behind Cleveland in the AL Central.

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Detroit pitching takes another night off as they fail to hold 4-1 and 7-5 leads in an 11-8 loss to Texas. Doug Fister failed to get past the fifth inning getting tagged for 5 runs and 9 hits in 4 2/3 innings. The bullpen didn't do any better giving up six runs on 9 more hits. Wasted was Miguel Cabrera going 4-for-4 with three home runs 5 RBIs, and four runs scored, becoming the first player in major league history to achieve such statistics in a loss. Detroit leads the majors in hitting, but unless the pitching, epecially the bullpen, gets its act together, they can forget about the postseason.

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Detroit begins a two game series at Cleveland tonight at 7:05 P.M. Max Scherzer starts for Detroit against Kluber for Cleveland.

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Max Scherzer wins a pitching duel with Cleveland's Corey Kluber, at least it was until the sixth inning for a 5-1 win for Detroit. Scherzer allow one run on two hits over eight innings, overcoming a first in he was a bit off target. Kluber, on the other hand, was sailing along with a 1-0 lead and having retired 12 of the first 13 hitters he faced until the sixth inning when he gave up a leadoff home run to Andy Dirks. Torii Hunter followed with a double before Miguel Cabrera launched a low outside fastball more than 400 feet over the centerfield wall to breakup a pitching duel.

Scherzer retired the final 22 batters he faced for his sixth straight decision. Detroit added two more runs in the ninth for the final margin.

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In a game in which Justin Verlander didn't return to form and Ubaldo Jimenez did, Detroit outlasted Cleveland 11-7. The game also featured two rain delays and 27 total hits. Jimenez allowed 6 runs in four innings on seven hits and leads the majors with 8 starts with at least 6 runs allowed in five or fewer innings pitched since last season.

Verlander was rattled for five runs on 10 hits over five innings, his third straight outing of five innings or less after only two such occurances the previous two seasons, and wasn't fooling anyone after the first two batters. Location and no movement on his pitches seem to be an issue.

On the bright side, Miguel Cabrera's two run homer in the eighth inning which bounced off the glove of center fielder Michael "
Bourn, provided the final scoring in the game. He was 2-for-4 and now has a major league leading 52 RBIs. His 13th homer also ties him for the American League lead.

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Detroit scores three runs in the seventh and one in the eighth for a come from behind 7-6 win over Minnesota. Rick Porcello was rocked for five runs on ten hits in five innings, apparently getting his pitches up in the strike and/or getting too much of the plate.

The Twins got four runs in third on three straight singles and a home run by Josh Willingham to make it 5-2. After trailing 6-3 going into the bottom of the seventh, Omar Infante singled Miguel Cabrera singled with one out. RBI singles by Prince Fielder and Victor Martinez brought in the third of three Minnesota relievers in the inning. Jhonny Peralta greeted Jared Burton with an RBI double to tie the game.

The go ahead run came in the eighth after Omar Infante led off with another singleand was sacrificed to second by Torii Hunter. Cabrera was intentionally walked and Fielder bounced a single off the glove of losing pitcher Burton. Joaquin Benoit got the win in relief and Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

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Anibal Sanchez takes a no hitter into the ninth against Minnesota. Sanchez gave up three walks, two in the first inning, then retired the 18 batters to set up the drama and was in command throughout, until one out in the ninth when Joe Maurer scalded a 1-0 curveball that was low but over the plate into centerfield for Minnesota's only hit. Detroit would win 6-0.

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A shakey first inning by Doug Fister proved to be the difference in a 3-2 loss to Minnesota. Fister allowed a one out home run to Joe Maurer, then an RBI double to Justin Morneau who scored on a single by Chris Parmalee. Fister settled down afterward and was effective the rest of his outing pitching seven inning allowing the three runs on eight hits.

Detroit was also done in by its inability to move runners along. Another scoring chance ended in the second inning when Andy Dirks struck out with the bases loaded. Jhonny Peralta had a home run for the Tigers and Brayan Pena had three hits.

P.J. Walters, who was called up from the minors before yesterday's game, got the win allowing two runs on six hits in six innings of work. Fister's record falls to 5-2.

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Max Scherzer pitches six innings allowing one run one three hits in a 6-1 win over Minnesota. He got out of a second inning jam after walking consecutive batters. Torii Hunter opened the scoring with an opposite field home run to right in the first. Prince Fielder had an RBI double in the fourth and Avisail Garcia had a bases loaded triple in a four run sixth.

Scherzer improved his record to 7-0. Drew Smyly pitched 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief to finish the game.

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Justin Verlander pitches 7 innings allowing three runs on seven hits in a 6-5 win over Pittsburgh. The differnce was Detroit's bullpen came through and Pittsburgh's failed. After the Pirates score twice in the seventh to pull within 4-3. Jose Cantrera walked four batters in 1/3 inning one which forced in what proved to be the winning run. They would score two more times in the eighth to pull within 6-5. After Gaby Sanchez doubled, pinch runner Harrison beame the tying run that was sent back to the dugout a few pitches later when he was caught leaning too far off second. Releiver Joaquin Benoit then got Brandon Inge looking at strike three.

Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his sisxth save striking Andrew McCutchen on his fourth try in getting him to chase an outside fastball.

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Neil Walker's home run in the 11th inning off Jose Ortega breaks up a pitching duel and gives Pittsburgh a 1-0 win over Detroit who got only five hits. The Pirates got only six, but one left the ballpark. Rick Porcello went eight innings allowing only three hits, but was matched by Jeanmar gomez who allowed three hits in seven innings. Both teams had runners in scoring position in the 10th, but were turned aside. Mark Melanson got the win in relief for Pittsburgh.

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Sudden wildness by Anibal Sanchez in the seventh begins a four run Pittsburgh rally to give the Pirates an eventual 5-3 win over Setroit. Sanchez had retired 16 of 17 batters until Garret Jones singled, Russell Martin walked on four straight pitches. Pedro Alvarez followed with a two run double to put to tie the game. Travis Snider doubled to give the Pirates the lead. Snider moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a suicide squeeze bunt.

Miguel Cabrera hit his 15th home run for Detroit and flied out the warning track in right-center field to end the game.

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Lack of timely hitting allows Pittsburgh to win 1-0 in 11 innings for the second straight night, this time on a bases loaded single off the left-center field wall. Detroit would squander several scoring chances, notably the fifth, when the Tigers opened with four straight singles. Matt Tuiasosopo, who started the inning, was thrown out at the plate, trying to score on Avasail Garcia's single. Doug Fister singled to load the bases, but Omar Infante grounded into a force play at the plate. There were also missed first and second and first and third situations in the sixth and seventh innings, and also a runner at second with two outs in the ninth that were wasted.

Doug Fister pitched the frist seven innings allowing four hits and striking out 12. Luke Putkonen took the loss for Detroit.

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Another blown save by Jose Valverde gives Baltimore a 7-5 win over Detroit on a three run homer by Chris Dickerson on a room service fastball. Valverde was mostly getting his pitches up in the strike zone, including two the outs he got. Does anyone think Dombrowski made a mistake bringing Valverde back or that he should have been paying attention to why no one was bidding for his services? The hitters are basically sitting on the fastball which has no movement.

Max Scherzer pitched eight innings allowing three runs on three hits, one of them, however, left the yard in the third inning with a man on. Miguel Cabrera and Avisail Garcia had home runs for Detroit which has lost three straight.

[Larry-Launstein-Jr]

Valverde blows too much hot and cold for me, and his antics are getting tiresome. But I lay a lot of the problems the Tigers have been having on the doorstep of Jim Leyland. the Tigers seem to play with very little sense of urgency. And I don't like his batting and pitching coaches, Lloyd McClendon and Jeff Jones, respectively. The one good pitching coach the Tigers had a couple of years ago, Rick Knapp, came to them from the Twins, when that team had guiys who pounded the strike zone. But he was not a Leyland type of guy, and was let go. The Tigers have Toby Harah as a batting coach as well, and why is he even there if McClendon is the one in charge, but can't get the guys to hit better. The Tigers thought Bruce Rondon could do the job as closer, but he proved to be very wild in spring training and in the couple of chances he got early in the season. I hope the Tigers make a serious move to get Brian Wilson when he is healthy enough again.

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An eight run fourth inning sends Detroit to a 10-3 win over Baltimore. The inning began with three consecutive home runs, then Oriole pitcher Jason Hammel hit Matt Tuiasosopo with a pitch in the left shoulder and immediately got the thumb from home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. At best, it was idiotic to intentionally hit a batter who hasn't yet proven to be capable of the long ball on a regular basis. Even Leyland stated there was no intent which of course the umpires disagreed with. When a pitcher hits a batter that high up, what does he expect the umpire to think?

A single followed this episode, then an RBI double, and a walk to load the bases. Miguel Cabrera unloaded them with his 17th home run. It was the first time the Orioles gave four home runs in an inning according to STATS and first time Detroit connected four times in an inning since September 10, 1986. Justin Verlander went seven innings for the win giving up three runs on eight hits.

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A meltdown by Rick Porcello and the bullpen results in a three run Baltimore seventh inning and an eventual 4-2 win over Detroit. Porcello was sailing along through the first six innings with a 2-0 lead mixing the curveball and sinker and had retired 10 of 11. A hanging changeup was tomahawked by Chris Davis into the seats for his major league leading 20th home run and Chris Dickerson followed with a ground ball through the right side. Another hit put runners at first and third and Leyland thought Porcello could a ground ball double play but that backfired and Phil Coke was brought in. He would do no better as two more hits would bring in the tying and go-ahead runs which were charged to Porcello. Leyland admitted maybe he should have changed pitchers to start the seventh. Where are you on this on Larry?

Detroit also short circuited another rally by bunting into a doubleplay with runners at first and third after already pushing a run across to make it 2-0.

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Detroit begins a homestand tonight against Tampa Bay at 7:08 P.M. Matt Moore starts for Tampa Bay against Anibal Sanchez. Moore is seeking a 9-0 start.

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Detroit sends previously unbeaten pitcher Matt Moore to the showers with a two run second and a four run third after Tampa Bay opened the scoring on a triple by Evan Longoria and a sacrice fly by Desmond Jennings and go on to a 10-1 win over Tampa Bay. An RBI double by Matt Tuiasosopo and and a sacrifice fly by Omar Infante made it 2-1 in the second. Two out walks to Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera loaded the bases but Detroit left the bases loaded.

A leadoff double by Jhonny Peralta was followed by two straight walks and a RBI single by Avisail Garcia. Moore walked the final batter he faced to force in a run to make it 4-1 at that point. Prince Fielder and Peralta had three hits each and Fielder's two run single capped Detroit's four run third. Infante had a home run for the Tigers. Anibal Sanchez went seven innings for the win allowing one run on four hits. He struck out nine and walked one.

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Doug Fister falters in the ninth inning and allows three runs on a bunt single by Sam Fuld, a single by Ben Zobrist, a sacrifice fly which also allowed Zobrist to reach second. Evan Longoria's RBI single chased Fister. Desmond Jennings greeted Drew Smyly with an RBI triple, all in a 3-0 win by Tampa Bay. The Rays blunted two scoring chances for Detroit with intentional walks to Miguel Cabrera to get to Prince Fielder despite having a righthander on the mound and Fielder being a lefthander hitter. As it turned out, Fielder is better against southpaws than righthanders, so the move made strategic sense. Fielder struck out both times.

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Max Scherzer becomes the first Detroit pitcher to start 8-0 since Jeremy Bonderman in 2007 pitching seven innings allowing one run on four hits striking out nine and walking two. Victor Martinez had a home run and drove in three runs in a 5-2 win over Tampa Bay. Martinez is still struggling to find his bat as he is hitting .231 and lining a few bullets into opposing players' gloves.