Detroit Tigers defeat Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 – MLB Update
Justin Verlander became the first 19-game winner of the Majors on Monday, August 22 as the Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2. Allowing only a run in seven innings, Verlander proved to be a fiercely tough competitor for the Rays at Tropicana Field,
Florida.
So overwhelmingly solid was his performance that even the opponents could not help making a frank acknowledgement of it. Having started his seventh game in the row, Verlander seemed all braced up for posing a big challenge to the Rays.
For him, the excitement was huge. "Do I know where I'm at?" Verlander said. "Of course I do, but I've said time and time again, those things, totals, season stats, are meant to be looked at at the end of the season."
Bottom of the first, Matt Joyce homered to right to score the first run for the Tampa Bay Rays when Jeff Niemann pitched a scoreless first inning. Joyce got opportunity to strike against Verlander and got a favourable result.
However, the Detroit Tigers’ offence was quick to spring into action. Alex Avila homered to left, driving in two runs for the Tigers that put the team on the leading position. But as the innings progressed, run stopped coming with the kind of flow witnessed
in the first two innings.
Both Verlander and Niemann threw excellently throughout the game. Entering into the eighth, with the 2-1 lead, Detroit Tigers’ offence sparked once again. This time it was Jhonny Peralta who drove in a two-run single to take the lead to 4-1 for the Tigers.
The AL leading team then brought in Joaquin Benoit to pitch as he relieved Verlander --- who gave up only three hits and allowed a run. Benoit also pitched well, making it a shut-out eighth for the Tigers to move on.
"He's just not out there throwing, trying to throw 100 mph," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "He pitches. He has a definite idea of what he's doing. He's blessed with a very good arm, but he's also a pitcher."
Don Kelly homered to right in the ninth against Juan Cruz to have a 5-1 edge in the game. Jose Valverde came as a closer, allowed a homer to Evan Longoria and sent other hitters packing to clinch a 5-2 win for the Detroit Tigers to make a wonderful start
of the four-game series.
The Tigers put in a tremendous effort as they managed to restrict Rays from scoring in the closing innings of the game. Tampa Bay will be looking to improve their performance in their next match-up. Detroit pulled off this much needed win against the Rays
5-2.
Tags: