Justin Verlander loses chance to establish himself in series starter against Texas Rangers
The Detroit Tigers had a chance to finish their tenth game with a victory and tally their wins to losses standing to 4–6.
However, that opportunity did not hassle merit as the club fell to seven defeats in the last 10 games of the season. Looking to top the American League Central division, the club is behind the Cleveland Indians, who are seven games up. For Justin Verlander,
the loss came at a price.
The veteran pitcher walked out of the game with a loss, to record a 1-1 statistical summary for his campaign start this year. The low scoring game went to the Rangers with a 2-0 score line. The Hurler’s hard efforts were not entertained as the Detroit hitters
failed to connect against Alexi Ogando, Darren Oliver, and, Neftali Feliz.
The pitcher was hitless in the first three innings but that situation changed in the fourth when the Rangers’ Josh Hamilton got a two–out single. To summarize, Verlander pitched a complete nine innings, conceding 6 hits, two runs and one ball. All the while
he struck out four hitters. Ogando was just as good as he went scoreless in his seven innings.
The difference between the two starters was the pack of hitters. Unfortunately, for Verlander, things turned out bad. For the Rangers, it was more about hanging on.
Hamilton explained:
"We were just trying to make him throw strikes, which he does", Hamilton said. "We missed some fastballs and some we hit got caught up in the wind. Fortunately Ogando kept us even until we could string two or three hits together".
The Detroit ball thrower conceded two costly runs in the seventh and it was Michael Young, who delivered for the visitors. His double to the deep right allowed Hamilton to score and it was Mitch Moreland, who awarded him with a run later, as he hit a double
down the same path.
"It was obvious from the beginning that balls weren't carrying well", Young said. "I was just hoping that ball would sneak over his head. It was a total pitching duel. Both guys were throwing extremely well, and in a game like that, you want to make sure
you get one run across".
Regardless of what transpired today, the first starter for the Detroit rotation will have another opportunity soon. With an earning runs average (ERA) of 3.13, there’s a lot to expect from the 28-year old.
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