Detroit Tigers: V-Mart’s 200th HR, Justin Verlander hits 99 MPH, More Bruce Rondon

Wednesday afternoon was one of those rare good afternoons of Detroit Tigers baseball in 2015. 36-year-old designated hitter Victor Martinez hit his 11th homer of the season and 200th of his career against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. He became the sixth Venezuelan-born player to reach the milestone.

Martinez accomplished his feat in winning fashion as the Tigers beat the White Sox, 7-4. Ace Justin Verlander found himself in a jam with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, but the right-hander dug for a little extra heat to record the final out via the strikeout.

Although Wednesday was a great day on the field, the Tigers were still reminded of their closer Bruce Rondon, who was sent home on Tuesday due to a lack of effort. Third baseman Nick Castellanos shared his feelings about the decision regarding Rondon in an interview with WMGC-FM (105.1) host Matt Dery.

Victor Martinez’s 200th HR adds joy to frustrating season – Chris McCosky, The Detroit News

The ball was retrieved.“They got it,” he said. “I have my first homer. I have my 100th homer, too.”Milestone moments have been few and far between for Martinez this season. But in recent games, he’s begun to swing the bat much better.“Despite the off-year for him, things have been trending upward in a number of areas,” Ausmus said. “The ball is coming off the bat a lot harder lately.”

Detroit Tigers’ Justin Verlander surprises even himself with high-90s fastball late in outing – Chris Iott, MLive.com

Verlander threw five consecutive fastballs — four at 98 mph and one at 99 — and struck out Soto for the final out of the seventh inning Wednesday. The bullpen held on from there as the Detroit Tigers earned a 7-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.That was unchartered territory for Tigers manager Brad Ausmus.“I haven’t seen 99 since I’ve been here from Ver,” Ausmus said.The 99-mph fastball came on the 111th pitch thrown by Verlander in the game.

Tigers’ Castellanos supports discipline of Rondon – George Sipple, Detroit Free Press

“I knew that there were a lot of guys in the clubhouse that were unhappy with his antics,” Castellanos said. “But no, I did not know that this kind of action was going to be taken.”Asked about the antics, Castellanos said Rondon, who can throw more than 100 m.p.h., was throwing 91 m.p.h. in recent nonsave situations.“It doesn’t look very good,” Castellanos said of the lower velocity.

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