What looked like another dramatic Tigers victory Sunday suddenly became a frustrating loss.
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The Mets avoided a sweep as Neil Walker’s two-run homer in the ninth inning gave the team a 3-1 win over the Tigers on Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park. Boyd got two outs in relief in a game against the Cubs last August 19 in Chicago.
The Tigers could celebrate the win, but they announced afterward that RHP Jordan Zimmermann and 3B Nick Castellanos were headed to the DL.
Verlander (12-6) allowed only two runs and struck out nine, but the Mets ran his pitch count up to 103 to force him out of the game. “I think Ver feeds off that type of stuff”, Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said of the pairing of his ace and New York’s.
DETROIT (AP) – The Detroit Tigers have little choice but to keep sending Anibal Sanchez back out to the mound.
Verlander recorded his fifth consecutive quality start with six strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out nine and walking one.
NY responded in the fourth inning.RF Jay Bruce drew a one-out walk and 3B Kelly Johnson hit a two-out home run to put the Mets up 2-1.
“At the end he was squeezing pretty good, but any time it’s right here in those small bones, it can be something”, manager Terry Collins said. “But I felt really good. What just happened?’ By that time, it’s too late”. Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer and James McCann singled in the third run with a two-out single on an 0-2 pitch. Right fielder Curtis Granderson patiently ran the ball all the way in, and Martinez was eventually tagged out in a rundown.
Obviously, with a pitcher like the Mets’ young stud, Noah Syndergaard, the hard part is getting on first base – the one you can’t steal.
Justin Upton, who had started the play on first, kept running toward third, leaving two Detroit runners in the vicinity of the same base. “Don’t tell Ver I said that”. “The more attention that’s paid to a particular game he’s pitching or the matchup, whether it’s him versus Syndergaard, him versus Chris Sale, I think his concentration goes up another notch”.
“That’s the most important thing this time of year – try to get on a roll, try to get hot – and that’s what we’re looking for”, Walker said. “Verlander’s one of those guys that can get himself out of just about any jam, so you have to get him fast”.
Rodriguez relieved Sanchez to begin the ninth and hit leadoff hitter Alejandro De Aza.
Mets reliever Jeurys Familia closed out the ninth.
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DeGrom came within an out of throwing seven scoreless inning, but three Tigers reached with two outs to tie the game at 1. McGehee hit a single that bounced off the gloves of both James Loney and Walker, but some confusion on the base paths benefited the Mets.
