Detroit Tigers Start Second Half With Win Over Orioles

In the midst of a three game losing streak, and in danger of falling even further behind the Kansas City Royals, the Detroit Tigers secured a 7-3 win they sorely needed, Friday night.

Detroit looked hungry for a win early, after Anibal Sanchez shut down the Orioles in the top of the 1st, and Victor Martinez hit a towering, two-run home-run to right. However, Baltimore, who also came in with a 44-44 record, refused to lay down. In the very next frame a single by Jonathan Schoop drove home Chris Davis and the score was 2-1.

The Tigers were relentless all night, though, and they set that tone early. After Baltimore rallied for a run, Detroit responded when Anthony Gose hit his 14th double of the season. Then, after a scoreless third inning the Tigers responded to Baltimore yet again, when after the Orioles tallied a run in the top half, a Jose Iglesias home-run stretched the lead to 6-2.

That was enough for Sanchez, who was clearly not at the top of his game, but still battled through six innings while striking out three, and only allowing two earned runs.

Sanchez’s final line was helped in large part by J.D. Martinez who was brilliant once more on both sides of the ball. On defense, Martinez bailed out Sanchez twice, by robbing Davis of a game-tying home run, and putting away a sinking line drive off the bat of Jimmy Paredes with the bases loaded. On offense, the Tigers’ young right-fielder continued his torrid pace when he hit his 26th home-run of the year.

Iglesias, Martinez, and Sanchez were joined as standout performers by Neftali Feliz, who has now pitched 1 2/3 effortless, scoreless innings in his first two outings with Detroit. The same, however, can not be said of Joakim Soria who was shaky yet again before ultimately closing the door and sealing the victory.

Feliz, Soria, and the rest of the Tigers will try and continue their promising start to the second half against Baltimore tomorrow night, at 7:08 when David Price takes the mound against Chris Tillman. The game will be broadcast on Fox-Sports Detroit, and 97.1 The Ticket.

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