DETROIT -- The top of Detroit's starting rotation looks just fine so far -- and so does the bottom of the batting order.
Anibal Sanchez helped the Tigers blank Minnesota for the second straight game, Jose Iglesias had four hits and Alex Avila scored four runs in Wednesday's 11-0 rout of the Twins.
Detroit had beaten Minnesota 4-0 on opening day behind star left-hander David Price, and Sanchez was impressive as well in his first start since Aug. 8. Sanchez was limited over the final two months of last season by a pectoral issue.
"He has a different look in his eye this year," manager Brad Ausmus said. "It's like he's determined to do something."
After losing Max Scherzer to free agency and trading Rick Porcello -- and putting Justin Verlander on the disabled list Wednesday -- the Tigers are counting on Price and Sanchez. Of course, they probably would have won this game no matter who was pitching.
Ian Kinsler drove in four runs for Detroit. Avila and Iglesias, hitting eighth and ninth in the order, reached base every time they came up -- Avila had three walks and a single.
"I'm not trying to walk, but at the same time, I'm trying to swing at strikes," Avila said. "A walk is just the result of sometimes not chasing and not swinging at balls."
Even after Avila was taken out, the No. 8 spot remained productive when pinch-hitter James McCann singled in the eighth. Iglesias followed with a walk -- the last two spots in the Detroit order reached base in all 10 plate appearances.
It was the first four-hit game of Iglesias' big league career. He and Avila also had two hits each in the opener, when Avila homered.
Sanchez (1-0) allowed three hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings while striking out six. Ricky Nolasco (0-1) gave up six runs and six hits in three-plus innings, walked four and struck out two.
Anthony Gose, making his Detroit debut after the Tigers acquired the center fielder in an offseason trade, came within a home run of the cycle.
Avila drew leadoff walks in the third and fourth, and the Tigers went on to big innings both times. Kinsler opened the scoring with a two-run single in the third, and Miguel Cabrera's RBI double made it 3-0.
Gose added a two-run triple in the fourth, and Kinsler followed with an RBI double that skipped past center fielder Jordan Schafer for an error. Kinsler came home on a wild pitch for a 7-0 lead.
"Leadoff walks are always going to hurt you a little bit," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "They were able to put together some innings and we weren't able to contain them after that. Iglesias got off to a good start, he got some hits, and Gose had a couple big hits, but it starts with both leadoff walks."
ZEROS
This is easily the longest shutout streak for the Tigers to start a season since at least 1912. They opened with 12 scoreless innings in 1914, 1947 and 2004, according to STATS.
The Twins have never gone this long without scoring their first run since moving to Minnesota, although the original Washington Senators were blanked for 19 innings at the start of 1940.
HUNTER-WEST AFTERMATH
Torii Hunter had harsh words for plate umpire Joe West after Monday's game, when West ruled Hunter swung at strike three in the ninth inning, ending the game.
"I think he had dinner reservations or a concert to play in," Hunter said that day.
On Wednesday, Hunter said he hasn't heard about any sort of fine yet for his comments.
"It wouldn't matter, though," Hunter said. "I'm expecting it. I won't be upset. It was worth it."
West umpired third base Wednesday.
"It's a bad call. It's over with," Hunter said before the game. "I'm going to go on the field and do my job, and he needs to do his job. We've all got jobs to do, whether you make a lot of money or you make a little money, you're still supposed to do your job the best way you know how."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: Minnesota has been remarkably healthy at the start of the season, and the pitching staff shouldn't be too fatigued even after Wednesday's game. The Twins only used four relievers.
Tigers: Detroit announced after the game that closer Joe Nathan was going on the 15-day DL with a right elbow strain. The Tigers also officially put Verlander on the 15-day DL, a move that had been expected for about a week.
UP NEXT
Detroit RHP Shane Greene -- another newcomer to the Tigers -- starts Thursday against Minnesota RHP Kyle Gibson.
Anibal Sanchez helped the Tigers blank Minnesota for the second straight game, Jose Iglesias had four hits and Alex Avila scored four runs in Wednesday's 11-0 rout of the Twins.
Detroit had beaten Minnesota 4-0 on opening day behind star left-hander David Price, and Sanchez was impressive as well in his first start since Aug. 8. Sanchez was limited over the final two months of last season by a pectoral issue.
"He has a different look in his eye this year," manager Brad Ausmus said. "It's like he's determined to do something."
After losing Max Scherzer to free agency and trading Rick Porcello -- and putting Justin Verlander on the disabled list Wednesday -- the Tigers are counting on Price and Sanchez. Of course, they probably would have won this game no matter who was pitching.
Ian Kinsler drove in four runs for Detroit. Avila and Iglesias, hitting eighth and ninth in the order, reached base every time they came up -- Avila had three walks and a single.
"I'm not trying to walk, but at the same time, I'm trying to swing at strikes," Avila said. "A walk is just the result of sometimes not chasing and not swinging at balls."
Even after Avila was taken out, the No. 8 spot remained productive when pinch-hitter James McCann singled in the eighth. Iglesias followed with a walk -- the last two spots in the Detroit order reached base in all 10 plate appearances.
It was the first four-hit game of Iglesias' big league career. He and Avila also had two hits each in the opener, when Avila homered.
Sanchez (1-0) allowed three hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings while striking out six. Ricky Nolasco (0-1) gave up six runs and six hits in three-plus innings, walked four and struck out two.
Anthony Gose, making his Detroit debut after the Tigers acquired the center fielder in an offseason trade, came within a home run of the cycle.
Avila drew leadoff walks in the third and fourth, and the Tigers went on to big innings both times. Kinsler opened the scoring with a two-run single in the third, and Miguel Cabrera's RBI double made it 3-0.
Gose added a two-run triple in the fourth, and Kinsler followed with an RBI double that skipped past center fielder Jordan Schafer for an error. Kinsler came home on a wild pitch for a 7-0 lead.
"Leadoff walks are always going to hurt you a little bit," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "They were able to put together some innings and we weren't able to contain them after that. Iglesias got off to a good start, he got some hits, and Gose had a couple big hits, but it starts with both leadoff walks."
ZEROS
This is easily the longest shutout streak for the Tigers to start a season since at least 1912. They opened with 12 scoreless innings in 1914, 1947 and 2004, according to STATS.
The Twins have never gone this long without scoring their first run since moving to Minnesota, although the original Washington Senators were blanked for 19 innings at the start of 1940.
HUNTER-WEST AFTERMATH
Torii Hunter had harsh words for plate umpire Joe West after Monday's game, when West ruled Hunter swung at strike three in the ninth inning, ending the game.
"I think he had dinner reservations or a concert to play in," Hunter said that day.
On Wednesday, Hunter said he hasn't heard about any sort of fine yet for his comments.
"It wouldn't matter, though," Hunter said. "I'm expecting it. I won't be upset. It was worth it."
West umpired third base Wednesday.
"It's a bad call. It's over with," Hunter said before the game. "I'm going to go on the field and do my job, and he needs to do his job. We've all got jobs to do, whether you make a lot of money or you make a little money, you're still supposed to do your job the best way you know how."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: Minnesota has been remarkably healthy at the start of the season, and the pitching staff shouldn't be too fatigued even after Wednesday's game. The Twins only used four relievers.
Tigers: Detroit announced after the game that closer Joe Nathan was going on the 15-day DL with a right elbow strain. The Tigers also officially put Verlander on the 15-day DL, a move that had been expected for about a week.
UP NEXT
Detroit RHP Shane Greene -- another newcomer to the Tigers -- starts Thursday against Minnesota RHP Kyle Gibson.
1:08 PM ET, April 8, 2015
Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Minnesota - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | MIN | DET |
| Santana fouled out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Dozier popped out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Mauer grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Minnesota | MIN | DET |
| Gose flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Kinsler flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Cabrera walked. | 0 | 0 |
| V. Martínez grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | MIN | DET |
| Hunter popped out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Vargas struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Plouffe struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Minnesota | MIN | DET |
| J.D. Martinez grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Céspedes struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Castellanos flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | MIN | DET |
| Arcia singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Suzuki flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Schafer grounded into fielder's choice to second, Arcia out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| Santana struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Minnesota | MIN | DET |
| Avila walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Iglesias doubled to left, Avila to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Gose flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Kinsler singled to center, Avila and Iglesias scored. | 0 | 2 |
| Cabrera doubled to left, Kinsler scored. | 0 | 3 |
| V. Martínez intentionally walked. | 0 | 3 |
| J.D. Martinez flied out to left. | 0 | 3 |
| Céspedes reached on infield single to third, Cabrera to third, V. Martínez to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Castellanos struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| 3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | MIN | DET |
| Dozier grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 3 |
| Mauer singled to right. | 0 | 3 |
| Hunter struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Vargas popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Ricky Nolasco pitching for Minnesota | MIN | DET |
| Avila walked. | 0 | 3 |
| Iglesias reached on infield single to third, Avila to second. | 0 | 3 |
| Gose tripled to deep right, Avila and Iglesias scored. | 0 | 5 |
| Stauffer relieved Nolasco. | 0 | 5 |
| Kinsler doubled to center, Gose scored, Kinsler to third on error by center fielder Schafer. | 0 | 6 |
| Cabrera grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 6 |
| V. Martínez intentionally walked. | 0 | 6 |
| J.D. Martinez lined out to third. | 0 | 6 |
| Kinsler scored, V. Martínez to second on wild pitch by Stauffer. | 0 | 7 |
| Céspedes grounded out to second. | 0 | 7 |
| 4 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | MIN | DET |
| Plouffe flied out to center. | 0 | 7 |
| Arcia fouled out to catcher. | 0 | 7 |
| Suzuki grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Tim Stauffer pitching for Minnesota | MIN | DET |
| Castellanos grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 7 |
| Avila walked. | 0 | 7 |
| Iglesias singled to right, Avila to second. | 0 | 7 |
| Gose singled to center, Avila to third, Iglesias to second. | 0 | 7 |
| Kinsler hit sacrifice fly to left, Avila scored. | 0 | 8 |
| Cabrera singled to center, Iglesias scored, Gose to third. | 0 | 9 |
| Graham relieved Stauffer. | 0 | 9 |
| V. Martínez grounded out to first. | 0 | 9 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | MIN | DET |
| Schafer doubled to deep right. | 0 | 9 |
| Santana struck out swinging. | 0 | 9 |
| Dozier grounded out to third. | 0 | 9 |
| Mauer popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Aaron Thompson pitching for Minnesota | MIN | DET |
| Thompson relieved Graham. | 0 | 9 |
| J.D. Martinez lined out to second. | 0 | 9 |
| Céspedes grounded out to second. | 0 | 9 |
| Castellanos grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | MIN | DET |
| Hunter popped out to second. | 0 | 9 |
| Vargas walked. | 0 | 9 |
| Plouffe walked, Vargas to second. | 0 | 9 |
| Arcia struck out swinging. | 0 | 9 |
| Nesbitt relieved Sánchez. | 0 | 9 |
| Suzuki grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Aaron Thompson pitching for Minnesota | MIN | DET |
| Núñez at third base. | 0 | 9 |
| Robinson in right field. | 0 | 9 |
| Plouffe at first base. | 0 | 9 |
| Avila singled to right. | 0 | 9 |
| Iglesias singled to left center, Avila to second. | 0 | 9 |
| Gose doubled to left, Avila scored, Iglesias to third. | 0 | 10 |
| Kinsler popped out to second. | 0 | 10 |
| Cabrera flied out to right. | 0 | 10 |
| V. Martínez lined out to left. | 0 | 10 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Ian Krol pitching for Detroit | MIN | DET |
| Pérez at first base. | 0 | 10 |
| Krol relieved Nesbitt. | 0 | 10 |
| Schafer struck out looking. | 0 | 10 |
| Santana struck out swinging. | 0 | 10 |
| Escobar hit for Dozier. | 0 | 10 |
| Escobar grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 10 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Blaine Boyer pitching for Minnesota | MIN | DET |
| Escobar at second base. | 0 | 10 |
| Boyer relieved Thompson. | 0 | 10 |
| J.D. Martinez doubled to deep center. | 0 | 10 |
| Céspedes flied out to center. | 0 | 10 |
| Castellanos grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 10 |
| McCann hit for Avila. | 0 | 10 |
| McCann singled to center, J.D. Martinez scored. | 0 | 11 |
| Iglesias walked, McCann to second. | 0 | 11 |
| Gose grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 11 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Al Alburquerque pitching for Detroit | MIN | DET |
| Romine in left field. | 0 | 11 |
| McCann catching. | 0 | 11 |
| Alburquerque relieved Krol. | 0 | 11 |
| Núñez singled to center. | 0 | 11 |
| Robinson struck out looking. | 0 | 11 |
| Herrmann hit for Vargas. | 0 | 11 |
| Herrmann flied out to right. | 0 | 11 |
| Soria relieved Alburquerque. | 0 | 11 |
| Núñez to second on fielder's indifference. | 0 | 11 |
| Plouffe flied out to left. | 0 | 11 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Minnesota Twins | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Santana SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Dozier 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | .143 | .143 | .143 |
a-Escobar PH-2B
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Mauer 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .286 | .286 | .286 |
Núñez 3B
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.000 |
| Hunter RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Robinson RF
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Vargas DH | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | .200 | .333 | .200 |
b-Herrmann PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Plouffe 3B-1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | .000 | .143 | .000 |
| Arcia LF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .167 | .167 | .167 |
| Suzuki C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .167 | .167 | .167 |
| Schafer CF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .400 | .400 | .600 |
| Totals | 31 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 137 | |||
| a-grounded to pitcher for B Dozier in the 8th b-flied out to right for K Vargas in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Schafer (1, Sánchez) Twins RISP: 0-6 (Mauer 0-1, Santana 0-1, Dozier 0-1, Arcia 0-1, Plouffe 0-1, Suzuki 0-1) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Schafer (1, catch) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Comerica Park, Detroit, MI |
| Attendance | 28,280 (68.5% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:06 |
| Weather | 39 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 7 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Kerwin Danley, First Base - Lance Barksdale, Second Base - D.J. Reyburn, Third Base - Joe West |
No comments:
Post a Comment