Detroit Tigers Win Third Straight; Down Chicago Cubs 6-0

Jun 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez (19) pitches in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-0 in the first game of their two game series. Anibal Sanchez made his best start of the season and Jon Lester continued his struggles at Comerica Park. Rajai Davis and Anibal Sanchez were the players of the game as Davis took away a home run and hit a double and a triple, and Sanchez finished the night with a line of 7.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K.

The Tigers got things started in the bottom of the first. Rajai Davis doubled to lead off the inning and Miguel Cabrera hit him home on a ground ball base hit to center field.

The Tigers extended their lead in the fourth. Cabrera singled once again to center, followed by a Yoenis Cespedes single to left field. Both baserunners moved up on a J.D. Martinez deep fly out to right field. Nick Castellanos then singled on a ground ball to left field, scoring Cabrera and Cespedes and giving the Tigers the 3-0 lead. Castellanos was thrown out at second on the play when Kris Bryant cut off the throw from left field. McCann then doubled, but did not score. It would have been a very close play if Castellanos was still on first base.

The Tigers added to their lead in the 5^th and ended Lester’s night. Jose Iglesias singled to lead off the inning, but was caught stealing second. Davis then tripled to left-center (which would have scored Iglesias from first). Ian Kinsler followed up with a double down the right field line to score Davis and give the Tigers the 4-0 lead.

Lester then unintentionally-intentionally walked Cabrera, throwing every pitch in the left-handed batter’s box. Cespedes then walked which ended Lester’s night for Edwin Jackson. J.D. Martinez then singled on a ground ball to left field, giving the Tigers the 5-0 lead. Lester ended the night with a line of 4.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K and was not sharp with his stuff.

The Tigers added to their lead in the sixth. Josh Wilson doubled on a hanging breaking ball from Jackson, moved up on a Davis ground ball, and scored on an infield single from Kinsler to stretch the lead to 6-0.

These two teams will face off again tomorrow night for their series finale as the Tigers look to extend their 3 game winning streak and sweep the Cubs. Shane Greene (4-5, 5.40 ERA) looks to get back on track as he faces off against Jake Arrieta (5-4, 3.04 ERA) with another 7:08 start time.