It took Tigers starting pitcher David Price only 93 pitches to shut out the Indians 4-0 at Comerica Park on Friday evening.
Price pitched a complete game, striking out eight without walking a single batter. He scattered seven hits, but only twice did the Indians ever get a runner as far as second base. The Tigers defense did their part to back Price up, turning two 6-4-3 double plays and two 4-6-3 double plays.
Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera swung at seven pitches during his four plate appearances. On four of those, he swung and missed. On a fifth, he managed a foul ball. But the last two times Cabrera swung the bat, he hit a three-run homer deep into the center field seats, and stroked an RBI double to deep right center. Cabrera went 2 for 3 with a walk and four RBI.
Indians starter Danny Salazar acquitted himself well, except of course for letting Miggy hit that home run in the sixth. That was the only real mistake he made all night, as he went seven innings while giving up three runs. On some nights that kind of performance is good enough to win a ballgame. But not on Friday night at Comerica Park.
The Indians have now lost four of their last five games. They face six-time All-Star and 2011 AL Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander tomorrow, making his first start of 2015. Carlos Carrasco will pitch for the Indians, who have done fairly well against Verlander in recent years. Let’s hope his return to the Tigers is an unhappy one.
One more thing: Ryan Raburn started in left field for the Indians. His defensive play has at times been atrcious: the claim made by the uploader of this video is a valid one. But he made two fine runnng catches yesterday, each time taking an extra-base hit away from a Tigers batter. I’m glad to see Raburn doing what he can to try to help this team win.
Justin Verlander isn’t what he used to be…and unless his rehab has worked a miracle, I don’t see him regaining 2011 form.