Tigers end seven-game losing streak
This was definitely the outcome the Detroit Tigers wanted. They finally won a game. After all, that is the main goal and it sure feels good especially after dropping seven straight games. Detroit had some things that the ball club can build on in their 4-1 win over the Rangers.
They got 123 pitches from Max Scherzer and there was a glimmer of edgy attitude surrounding him as he got ready for Texas.
"I came to the park today knowing I wanted to end this losing streak," Scherzer said. "It's been seven games, and I started it in Cleveland [last Friday]. I didn't pitch well and I came with the mentality that I was going to end it."
Detroit will be in desperation mode for the rest of the season if they do not use this turnaround and a stepping stone and avoid any more seven-game losing skids.
Losing streak or not, the Tigers have been in need of a starter to step up and control games like Scherzer did on Wednesday night. They need him to be the man alongside Justin Verlander moving forward.
"Sometimes what breaks this is a real outstanding pitching performance," Jim Leyland said. "That's what we got tonight."
Scherzer wasn’t asked to do everything, but he took care of business on the mound and helped the Tigers’ defence by taming an aggressive Texas lineup to give his club a chance. "Quite a night for Max Scherzer," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He had some tough sink on the ball and had a good changeup. We worked him pretty good, but we couldn't put any runs on the board."
Working with a former Ranger behind the plate in catcher Gerald Laird, Scherzer made this his game from the outset and finally got some help from the offence. Detroit had scored more than three runs just once during their losing streak and Laird knew that this wasn’t going to suffice against a tough Rangers’ club.
Texas Rangers right-hander Colby Lewis would have shut them out through six innings and quite possibly been en route to his 10th win of the season if not for one swing of the bat by Laird in the second inning for a two-run homer.
Detroit’s bullpen erupted and all his teammates were cheering. They knew that this could be the game to get their season back on track.
The Rangers had their chances, but could not capitalize when given the opportunity. Michael Young led off the fourth inning with a sizzling triple into the left-centre gap. "I'm thinking, 'Don't worry about the run. That's going to score,'" Leyland said. "Just get that guy."
That’s exactly what his pitcher did by talking to himself, trying to calm his nerves. "Pitch well. Keep executing," Scherzer reminded himself.
Then Scherzer was tested by Ian Kinsler. "I was putting good fastballs on him, and he was fouling them off," Scherzer continued. "That's why I decided to go with the changeup out of the zone. If I walk him, I walk him. If not, that's my best pitch at that point. That's Gerald behind the plate knowing that situation, too. We were on the same page with that pitch."
Scherzer finally dismissed the rest of the Texas batting order shortly after to escape with little damage striking out Kinsler on a changeup while Vladimir Guerrero chased an outside slider to strike out.
Detroit added a two runs in the seventh. Ramon Santiago and Austin Jackson started the inning with singles, and Johnny Damon moved them over with a grounder.
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