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After Saturday’s heartbreaker of a loss to the Chicago White Sox the Tigers needed to bounce back quickly. They did exactly that behind a solid pitching performance from Rick Porcello (3-2), and three solo home runs.
The White Sox half of the first inning seemed to pick up where they left off yesterday when Adam Dunn hit another home run to right field. It was his ninth home run of the season, and fifth home run in his last seven games. It turned out to be the only run of the game for the White Sox.
Austin Jackson lead off the Tigers half of the first inning with his own solo shot to left field, and continued his hot hitting going 2-4 with a walk. Jackson is batting .311, and has many around Detroit hoping he is having his break-out season.
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Andy Dirks
Porcello pitched 6 1/3 innings striking out five, and scattering four hits. It was the second straight quality start for Porcello who has allowed four earned runs over those two starts. The Tigers bullpen showed what they are capable of by shutting down the White Sox offense. They combined to throw one hit ball for 2 2/3 innings, and one walk. Closer Jose Valverde made the ninth inning interesting, but was able to get his fifth save of the season.
A mammoth solo home run from Prince Fielder in the third inning gave the Tigers the lead for good. White Sox starter Dylan Axelrod (0-1) threw 99 pitches over 4 1/3 innings. It was the first start of the season for Axelrod who took the place of Chris Sale in the White Sox rotation. He was optioned to AAA Charlotte after Sunday’s game.
Andy Dirks batted second in today’s line-up replacing a struggling Brennan Boesch. Dirks went 2-5 with an insurance home run in the eighth inning. It was his second home run of the season. Boesch batted eighth, and continued to disappoint at the plate, going 0-4.
After today’s game the Tigers optioned Brayan Villarreal to AAA Toledo making room for Doug Fister. Fister will make his first start since suffering abdominal pain the second game of the season tomorrow night in Seattle. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10pm at Safeco Field.
