No bullpen was needed this night.
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The Detroit Tigers’ bats came alive the past couple of nights in Chicago as they swept the Cubs in a two game series by outscoring them 25-16. Adeiny Hechavarria had two hits to extend his career-best hitting streak to 13 games for the Marlins. On Thursday night, he had the Texas Rangers fooled. He gave up just one hit and had to deal with just five baserunners throughout the game.
Simon (11-7) walked two and struck out five. He retired the final 15 batters he faced.
But if his Tigers start is the worst of it, the Rangers can live with that. Simon has changed his arm angle some, but he still attacked the strike zone and effectively changed speeds with his array of off-speed pitches. Detroit set season highs in runs and hits (21) and tied one with five homers. Wade Miley (10-9) left in the eighth inning, allowing just one run. The right-hander was pulled in the seventh inning with a four-run lead after the Giants loaded the bases with two outs.
Alfredo Simon: Was a reflection of his dominance of old. Morton (8-4) scattered 4 hits over 6 2/3 innings while striking out 8 and walking 2. He was also intentionally walked in the seventh. He later walked in the sixth inning.
DETROIT THIRD: Casteallanos batted again with the bases loaded and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Brad Hand (3-3) allowed four hits, two walks and one run in six innings.
Ian Kinsler bobbled a grounder from Mitch Moreland in the top of the second.
Tigers fans were especially displeased with Fielder at the end of 2013 because of the comments he made in what ended up being his last game in the uniform.
“He poured his fastball in for strikes, but his secondary stuff is really what kept our guys off balance”, Banister said.
In his last six games, Nick Castellanos is batting. 324 with 17 home runs and 69 RBI. He struck out four. Only Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks has more, with 24. Simon started the season strongly, but he has been bad in his last 10 starts.
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Last season, the bitterness might still have been a little fresh if Fielder had returned to Comerica Park in a different uniform less than a year removed from his Tigers days. The Tigers have nine team shutouts, with Sanchez’s the most recent one before Simon’s.
