Tigers Crush the Braves Thanks to Sanchez, Rangers Keep Winning
Atlanta Braves (15-7) lefty pitcher Paul Maholm entered Friday’s game against the Detroit Tigers (11-10) looking for a fourth win but instead it was his fellow pitcher, righty Anibal Sanchez, who got all the accolades with his new team record in the 10-0 victory.
Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez
Sanchez (3-1) had five losses against the Braves when Friday’s game started and it had been three years since he had a win against them. Unfortunately for the Braves, he brought his A game and 17 strikeouts over eight innings; this set a team record, surpassing the one last set on May 23, 1969 by Mickey Lolich.
There’s more.
Sanchez is the first league pitcher since Aug. 8, 2010 when pitcher Brandon Morrow struck out 17 players during a game and the first one to do so in eight innings or less. He also set a record for greatest number of strikeouts for a regular-season interleague game, surpassing the previous record of 16.
For the night, Sanchez had 121 pitches with 84 strikes and 27 of them swings and misses across his arsenal of five pitches.
He said of his game via ESPN, “Amazing. I’m just going to keep working. That’s not going to stop today. I don’t think too much about strikeouts and records and things like that. I prefer getting some zeros.”
As for Maholm (3-2), from 3 2/3 innings he gave up eight runs; this follows the three he gave up over his last four games. Detroit’s short stop Matt Tuiasosopo got a homer and brought in five runs–a career-high for him.
On Saturday, Tigers righty pitcher Rick Porcello (0-2) will take the mound against the righty Braves Kris Medlen (1-2).
The Braves will come back for the win against the home team (-113, 8 o/u).
Boston Red Sox defeat Houston Astros, Dempster Gets a Win
Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster
Also on Friday, the America League’s best, the Boston Red Sox (16-7), saw its pitcher Ryan Dempster get his first win with his new team. The Red Sox defeated the Houston Astros (7-16) 7-3 and now have a three-game win streak going (winning 11 of their last 14 games).
Dempster, a veteran righty, walked three players while striking out 10. He ERA fell to 3.30.
On Saturday, Red Sox lefty Felix Doubront (2-0) will take on pitching duties while righty Brad Peacock (1-2) will do so for the Astros.
The Red Sox will again get the win (-270, 9.5 o/u) and for the big prize, they are 20 to 1 to win this year’s World Series.
Texas Rangers Gets 4-3 Win Over the Minnesota Twins
Texas Rangers (16-7) righty pitcher Justin Grimm (2-0) showed that filling in for starter Matt Harrison was a good thing on Friday as he led the team to a 4-3 win against the Minnesota Twins (9-10). It was his second straight start and he had seven shutout innings, giving up five hits, four strikeouts and zero walks for the night.
The Rangers have now won seven of their last eight games. They sit at the top of the West division, 3.5 games ahead of the once-leading Oakland A’s (13-11), who have lost three in a row.
On Saturday, lefty Derek Holland (1-1) will pitch for the hot Rangers while Pedro Hernandez (0-0) will report for duty for the Twins.
The Rangers will keep the win steak going on Saturday (-142, 8.5 o/u). They are 14 to 1 to win the World Series.
Chicago Cubs Get Back-to-Back Wins
In a battle of two bad baseball teams, the Chicago Cubs came out as the victor on Friday, defeating the home team Miami Marlins (5-18), 4-2. What’s exciting about this matchup is the Cubs won back-to-back for the first time this season.
Anthony Rizzo, who grew up nearby, gave the Cubs the win with his two, two-run homers.
Can the Cubs make it three straight wins?
Their pitcher lefty Travis Wood (1-1) will take on righty Alex Sanabia (2-2), leading them to another win (-132, 7.5 o/u).
