Detroit Tigers beat Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 – MLB Spring Training
Detroit Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 comfortably at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland Florida on Wednesday, March 6 in an important Grape Fruit League encounter of the 2013 Spring Training.
Although the Tigers made a very ordinary start to their Spring Training campaign, they finally showed some signs of form as they dominate their American League rivals in almost all departments of the game. Torii Hunter was the star of the show. The former Los Angeles Angels’ catcher showed the stuff he is capable of as he drove in crucial runs for his team. Starting pitcher Justin Verlander also made his presence felt as he pitched four scoreless innings.
"They brought me here to bat second and to be a kind of team leader here," Hunter said. "I made sure the first day here that my teammates got to know me and I got to know them. I had other people do that for me when I first came up, so it's my turn now."
"I like him in the second spot," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He's got the right attitude about it and he knocked in a lot of runs for the Angels last year in that slot. It isn't going to be an adjustment for him at all. He did a lot last year."
Tigers’ pitching rotation looked in hot form as they created all sorts of problems for the Toronto’s batting lineup. Starting pitcher Verlander and the relievers all made useful contributions to help their side restrict their opponents to a gettable total. Tigers posted some impressive performances last year to make it to the World Series finals and it will be interesting to see if they can continue the good work in 2013.
Blue jays, on the other hand, will also be very disappointed with their performance in a pressure game. However, considering the form and confident they have shown so far this Spring Training, it will not be wrong to say that they have a very good chance of winning the World Series title. Season favourites like the Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees will have to be on their toes to overcome the Blue Jays’ challenge this season.
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