Final
Laird, Inge help Tigers snap losing streak
Sep 13, 2009 - 9:08 PM DETROIT(AP) -- The Detroit Tigers turned to a 20-year-old rookie to snap their worst slump of the season.Thanks to Rick Porcello, they are back in control of the AL Central.
Porcello gave up two runs on four hits in six innings and the Tigers snapped a five-game losing streak with a 7-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
"It was big for us to come out and put an end to that," said Porcello, who won't turn 21 until Dec. 27.
Porcello is 4-1 with a 3.41 ERA in nine starts since Aug. 1 as the Tigers have pulled away from Minnesota and Chicago in the division race.
"I didn't know how I would feel in this situation - I didn't even know that I would be here," he said. "But I feel great. I just want to keep improving, because I don't think I'm a finished product."
Porcello spent last season in Class A, but Tigers catcher Gerald Laird has no concerns about the Tigers relying on him in a pennant race.
"He's got that swagger, because he knows he belongs here," said Laird, who had two RBIs to help Detroit's cause. "He's just getting stronger - he's throwing 96 or 97 now."
Another rookie, Toronto's Ricky Romero, took the loss. Romero (12-8) also went six innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits.
"I thought he threw the ball pretty well - he's done a nice job this year for a rookie - and I don't think he's out of gas," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "He just had one bad inning today."
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead on Laird's RBI single in the second, and added three more runs in the third. Placido Polanco led off with a walk and took third on Magglio Ordonez's double. Miguel Cabrera followed with an RBI single, Marcus Thames drove in a run by beating out a double play and Laird finished the inning with his second run-scoring base hit of the game.
"I thought I was pretty good today, other than the one inning that killed me," Romero said. "After that, I got back into a groove and got some quick outs, but I basically beat myself early in the game."
Toronto got onto the board on Edwin Encarnacion's RBI double in the fourth, then cut the gap to two runs in the fifth when Aaron Hill's groundout scored Raul Chavez.
Detroit put the game away with three runs off Josh Roenicke in the eighth. With two on and two out, Aubrey Huff had a pinch-hit RBI double and Brandon Inge followed with a two-run single.
NOTES: Toronto RF Joe Inglett was a late scratch with a ribcage strain. Jose Bautista replaced him in the lineup. ... The Tigers have 150 victories since their next-door neighbors, the Lions, last won a game. ... Detroit matched their record for home wins at Comerica Park. They are now 46-24 at home, while the pennant-winning 2006 team went 46-35. ... Detroit's Brent Dlugach made his major league debut in the eighth. He pinch-ran for Huff and scored on Inge's single. ... Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced after the game that Eddie Bonine will replace Armando Galarraga in the rotation, effective Wednesday.
- Tigers 7, Blue Jays 2 - FINAL
TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Scutaro ss 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 .283
A Hill 2b 4 0 0 1 0 0 3 .287
A Lind dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299
V Wells cf 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .259
L Overbay 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .260
E Encarnacion 3b 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .191
T Snid
Sep 13 3:47 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BRANDON INGE SCORED BRENT DLUGACH AND MIGUEL
CABRERA
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, B INGE ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
DETROIT 7 BOTTOM,8TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.249, 0-FOR-3, BB)
Blue Jays 2, Tigers 7 Bot 8, 0 OutsSep 13 3:36 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY AUBREY HUFF SCORED CLETE THOMAS
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A HUFF ON SECOND, M CABRERA ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
DETROIT 5 BOTTOM,8TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: B INGE (.231, 1-FOR-3, HBP)
Blue Jays 2, Tigers 5 Bot 8, 0 OutsSep 13 3:34 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
FORCE OUT BY AARON HILL SCORED RAUL CHAVEZ
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A HILL ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
DETROIT 4 TOP,5TH
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A LIND (.300, 0-FOR-2)
Blue Jays 2, Tigers 4 Top 5, 0 OutsSep 13 2:36 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY EDWIN ENCARNACION SCORED VERNON WELLS
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E ENCARNACION ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1
DETROIT 4 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: T SNIDER (.224, 0-FOR-1)
Blue Jays 1, Tigers 4 Top 4, 0 OutsSep 13 2:14 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY GERALD LAIRD SCORED MARCUS THAMES
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, G LAIRD ON FIRST, B INGE ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 0
DETROIT 4 BOTTOM,3RD
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: A EVERETT (.243, 1-FOR-1)
Blue Jays 0, Tigers 4 Bot 3, 0 OutsSep 13 2:03 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
FORCE OUT BY MARCUS THAMES SCORED MAGGLIO ORDONEZ
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M THAMES ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 0
DETROIT 3 BOTTOM,3RD
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: B INGE (.231, 0-FOR-0, HBP)
Blue Jays 0, Tigers 3 Bot 3, 0 OutsSep 13 1:56 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MIGUEL CABRERA SCORED PLACIDO POLANCO
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M CABRERA ON FIRST, M ORDONEZ ON THIRD, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 0
DETROIT 2 BOTTOM,3RD
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M THAMES (.259, 0-FOR-1)
Blue Jays 0, Tigers 2 Bot 3, 0 OutsSep 13 1:55 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY GERALD LAIRD SCORED MIGUEL CABRERA
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, G LAIRD ON FIRST, B INGE ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 0
DETROIT 1 BOTTOM,2ND
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: A EVERETT (.240, 3 HR, 41 RBI)
Blue Jays 0, Tigers 1 Bot 2, 0 OutsSep 13 1:35 PM
Related News
- Breaking down the Tigers offensive projections for 2024 Dec 26
- Merry Christmas Dec 25
- Happy Birthday Rickey Henderson Dec 25
- Hall of Fame Poll: David Wright Dec 24
- Hall of Fame Poll: Billy Wagner Dec 23
- Off Topic: What is the worst Christmas song? Dec 23
- Tigers sign RHP Shelby Miller to a one-year contract Dec 22
- Friday Open Thread: Your Tigers Christmas wish Dec 22
- Today in Blue Jays History: Brandon Morrow Trade Dec 22
- Off-Topic: Favourite Christmas Song Dec 21
- Happy Birthday Tom Henke Dec 21
- Today in Blue Jays History: Olerud traded for Person Dec 20