Detroit Tigers Down Marlins 7-3 In Opening Series Finale

Detroit Tigers fans witnessed something on Wednesday night that was a rarity. In fact, the Tigers were able to do something no team has ever done on Wednesday, beat Miami ace Jose Fernandez at home. Detroit won the game 7-3.

Detroit Tigers games have so far ended in wins. So far so good. After a shaky start to the season on Tuesday night, the Tigers went back at it again Wednesday evening. The team closed out the season’s opening Interleague series with the Miami Marlins by winning 7-3.

It wasn’t as easy as most would expect when playing the Marlins at Marlins Park, where their starting pitcher Jose Fernandez had never recorded a loss until Wednesday.

Before the Tigers came to town, Fernandez had won all seventeen decisions in his career at home, a modern era first. If it hadn’t been for getting next to no run support, he could of easily escaped with the win as he struck out thirteen Tigers hitters in just over five innings.

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Striking out the side to begin the game, Fernandez’s only error early came when former teammate Jarrod Saltalamacchia crushed a 2-run home run to right after a JD Martinez walk in the 2nd inning. After the home run, he struck out eight of the next 10 batters.

In the sixth inning things began to fall apart a bit for the Marlins ace. After allowing two singles while striking out two more, Nick Castellanos doubled to score the Tigers 3rd run of the night, and that was the last batter Fernandez faced.

He was relieved by Dustin McGowen, who promptly gave up a 2-run double to Saltalamacchia to make the score 5-0 Tigers. Fernandez was charged with the runs, making it only the second time ever he had allowed five runs or more at home.

Anibal Sanchez did everything asked of him tonight for Detroit. Under two weeks ago, the Tigers weren’t even sure if he’d be able to make the start, let alone go through the first 5 innings without allowing a run. When he came back out for the sixth inning, he walked the first two batters and Manager Brad Ausmus had seen enough.

Sanchez was pulled for Drew VerHegan, who allowed both of the runners he acquired from Sanchez to score. However those were the only two runs that crossed home plate that inning, and the Tigers got out of the inning with minimal damage and a comfortable 5-2 lead.