Tigers 4, Twins 3. [Boxscore]
Summary: Longballs buoy Tigers past Twinkies in a squeaker.
Pitching. Scherzer dominated the Twins as he tossed 7.1 innings,
striking out 10 [video] (his third 10+ strikeout game of the season, no less!) while giving up 3 runs on just 6 hits - and unusually for him, zero walks. Just a terrific performance!
He improves to 3-0, 4.02.
Smyly took over in the 7th and breezed right through the Twins lineup, not permitting one baserunner. He earned his 4th hold, and is 1-0 (1 save) with a 1.59 ERA.
Benoit pitched the last out in the 9th, taking just 2 pitches to retire the last Twinkie batter and earn his 2nd save of the season. He has no record and sports a nifty 2.31 ERA.
Hitting: The Big Cats had 7 hits and 3 walks - but were 1-6 with RISP, their big issue this year. Fortunately, two guys named Dirks and Fielder were around tonight. Dirks, playing left and batting 2nd (he hasn't played in some time due to nagging injury issues, the bane of his career so far), went 2-3 with a walk and
a solo shot [video] (1) in the 3rd. Fielder accounted for winning runs with a
3-run blast [video] (6) in the 6th that landed in the Twins bullpen area at Comerica. Impressive slam, if you ask me.
Peralta, going 1-4, collected his fifth double of the season, while the team's donkelly went 1-3 with a triple (1). Otherwise, they didn't get much done, which is a testament to the Twins pitching staff.
And... Avila got a hit, his first in a week!
Let's hope this terrific guy has finally broke out of his slump and will start hitting like he's capable of doing.
Note: Sorry if the video links do not appear with the post until later, MLB.com/Tigers are extremely slow these days posting videos. :\
Next game: Tuesday, Twins @ Tigers, 7:08 Eastern. TV: FS-D. Radio: 97.1 The Ticket.