Rapid Reactions: Justin Verlander is a Good Pitcher

Tigers 4, Mariners 1 (box score)

• Both starting pitchers lasted through eight innings, but while Doug Fister was just OK, Justin Verlander was absolutely dominant. JV struck out a season high 10 batters while only walking one. The only Mariner run scored when Jack Wilson swung and missed (strike three) at a chin-high strike that Alex Avila couldn’t snatch. The ball rolled to the backstop, and the runner on third slid safely into home (and Wilson reached first base).
• Alex Avila is turning into a terrific hitter, and it’s high time that he’s move up in the order. Two no-out triples put Alex on third, but he was stranded the first time, and only scored on the second when Don Kelly poked a two-out single into center field. Jim Leyland is wasting Alex’s extra base power by putting him in front of the can’t-hitters.
• Jose Valverde closed down the door with a rather uneventful ninth inning save. His ERA is down to 2.89, and he’s perfect in save opportunities. I’m penciling him in for a second-straight All-Star appearance.
• Brennan Boesch reached base three times tonight with a walk, a double, and a home run. His OPS is up to .805 which is a .110 increase from where it was on June 1. He’s been killing the ball lately.
• Cleveland was idle today, so the Detroit win brings them within a single game of the Tribe.

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