Justin Verlander helps Detroit Tigers shutout Cleveland Indians 4-0 – MLB Update
Detroit Tigers shut-out the Cleveland Indians 4-0 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, September 14 in the opening game of their three match series.
Starting pitcher Justin Verlander bounced back strongly to blank the Indians. Allowing just six hits in seven scoreless innings, the Tigers’ ace made quick work of Indians’ batting line-up. Using his fastballs and sliders to great effect, Verlander laid
the foundations of an impressive Tigers’ victory.
Relief pitchers Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde combined to pitch two perfect innings to help Detroit shut-out their opponents.
Delmon Young provided Tigers with a kind of start they were hoping for as he singled to centre in the first inning. Brennan Boesch also had a decent outing, earning an RBI single to centre in the first to double the Tigers’ lead 2-0.
"I don't think anybody's thinking that far back," Indians’ manager Manny Acta said. "We're trying to keep things present."
"It wasn't hit hard, but those are the balls that can create into chaos because it got right down the line," Prince Fielder said. "I was glad I was able to get it."
Austin Jackson continued to put pressure on Indians’ starting pitcher Corey Kluber, adding a double to deep right in the second. Third baseman Miguel Cabrera singled to centre and Jackson scored to stretch Tigers’ lead to 4-0 that lasted until the end of
the game.
"I'm not a little guy," Verlander joked of his encounter with the extra-large Fielder. "But I've seen him take a couple of guys out like it was football."
"Game-saving plays," Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland said. "Everybody's going to talk about defense, but those guys made terrific plays on the corners."
Tigers improved their record to 76-67 after securing a comfortable win against the Indians. The pitching rotation executed the game plan to perfection to create all sorts of problems for the Indians’ batting line-up.
It will be interesting to see if the Tigers can carry on their good work for the next weeks to get to the top of the American League Central Division standings table.
The Tigers will definitely be happy with their performance as they managed to get their offence to fire and dominate the Indians.
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