Detroit Tigers secure a comfortable win over Toronto Blue Jays – MLB News
Detroit Tigers overwhelmed Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 in a Grape Fruit League game at the Joker Marchant Stadium here in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers displayed some high quality baseball skills as they dominated their rivals in almost all aspects of the game.
Adopting an aggressive approach, they put the Blue Jays under immense pressure right from the beginning.
Justin Verlander picked up where left off last season as he pitched with great control and accuracy to restrict the Jays to a very small total. The Tigers’ ace produced magical performances last season to win the American League Most Valuable Player award.
Leading the American League pitchers in wins (24), strikeouts (250) and ERA (2.40), he also won the Pitching Triple Crown award.
Before the start of Spring Training, Verlander had vowed that he would take each game seriously. The guy got off to the best possible Spring Training start as he pitched two scoreless innings to help the Tigers secure a comfortable 4-2 win over the Jays.
Allowing only one hit and striking out one batter, he looked on top of his game play in the exhibition game. If Verlander can continue his sensational run throughout the regular season, the Tigers will be very hard to stop.
"I have a lot to work on this spring," Verlander said. "I need to get more control and I wasn't throwing my breaking ball for strikes, but it will come. I need to get a feel for my changeup, but that will also come."
"He was just working on his breaking ball, his slider and other things," Avila said about Verlander.
"He was just trying to get the feel for his breaking ball and his changeup," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I'm not thinking about last year and neither is he. He doesn't have perfect control yet, but he'll have it."
Tigers’ second baseman Brandon Inge also made useful contributions with his glove as he went deep into the hole to make a long flip to shortstop Ramon Santiago. Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland was delighted at his side’s performance and he aimed to give similar
results in the upcoming games.
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