Justin Verlander, Jose Valverde dominate as Detroit Tigers defeat Los Angeles Angels 3-2 – MLB
Justin Verlander started the destruction and Jose Valverde closed it, as the Detroit Tigers romped to 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels in the rubber exhibition of the four-game series at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sunday, July 31.
The right-hand pitcher started the game in a passionate manner and began destroying the Angels’ batting squad right from the first inning. He got Maicer Izturis on line and then took Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu on a swinging strike in the first inning.
It set his momentum and he kept the Angels’ camp under constant pressure.
The 28-year-old hurler allowed his first hit in the top of the eighth inning after the Tigers’ batting had posted three runs. In this inning, he allowed two RBIs, one each to Peter Bourjos and Izturis. He completed his spell, taking nine strike-outs with
0.38 WHIP and 0.00 ERA. The veteran ball thrower gained his 15th win of the season in 24 starts.
Valverde carried the impetus after Verlander left the mound. Valverde tossed 16 pitches, allowed one walk without any hit over the ninth to get his 28th save of the season.
"Justin and Jered was the matchup that everyone wanted to see, and I don't think anyone left here disappointed," Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland said. "I think they were both pumped up, and it was exciting for the fans."
Magglio Ordonez started the stint with bat, touching a ballistic homer to left-field to gather two runs in the third inning.
"I don't hit many homers anymore, and I wanted to make sure that it stayed fair," Ordonez said. "After that, he was yelling at me to run faster, and I told him that I'm old -- that's as fast as I run.”
Carlos Guillen also launched a dazzling homer to take it to 3-0 in the seventh inning.
Each of these hits came off the pitching of Angels’ starter Jered Weaver, who otherwise was excellent with his gritty sinker and swinging strikes. Weaver lost his fifth game after allowing three runs on four hits and one walk over six innings. Hisanori Takahashi
remained scoreless in a single inning.
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