Most big-league managers would have still held on to a sliver of hope as Friday night’s game between the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers came down to its last few moments.
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Victor Martinez got tossed in the bottom of the third. Detroit is off next Thursday and manager Brad Ausmus said RHP Michael Fulmer probably will have his next start pushed back. Before he left he tossed his batting helmet on the field from the dugout.
Detroit Tigers’ Victor Martinez continues to yell at home plate umpire Mike Everitt following his ejection as manager Brad Ausmus, left, watches during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.
In Milwaukee, Jordy Mercer’s first career grand slam capped a five-run sixth inning that started with two errors by Brewers third baseman Jonathan Villar in Pittsburgh’s victory.
After Ian Kinsler struck out looking in the fifth, Joyner was ejected from the dugout by Everitt.
It was the fourth career ejection for Victor Martinez, the first for J.D. Martinez, the 10th for Ausmus and the second for Joyner as a coach. Zimmermann allowed two hits in 3 2/3 shutout innings, throwing 39 pitches.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead on Kinsler’s sixth leadoff home run of the season and 38th of his career.
Rodriguez walked Mike Trout to put the tying run on base, then saw Albert Pujols barely miss a homer down the left-field line before getting him to ground out to end the threat. After Maybin was caught stealing, Overholtzer gave up a walk to Cabrera, then a single to Victor Martinez. “J.D. hit the first one for a double and the next one was a home run”. Detroit are 2-6 in their last 8 home games and the under is 5-2-1 in their last 8 home games while the Tigers are 15-3 in Fulmer’s last 18 starts.
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DH Albert Pujols moved one away from tying for ninth on the all-time home run list Friday night by swatting his 585th off a fastball from Justin Verlander that was right down the middle of the plate. It was Pujols’ first regular-season homer off Verlander, though he did hit one off the Tigers ace in the 2006 World Series. Gonzalez (9-9) threw six innings and allowed two runs and four hits with one walk and five strikeouts. He kept the Tigers off the board through the first five innings, until an RBI double by J.D. Martinez and a two-run homer from Justin Upton in the sixth. The Tigers run extended to five games following Friday night’s victory behind a great performance on the mound from Justin Verlander. Upton slammed his bat in frustration after popping out to second to end the inning. The Tigers lost, 5-4, in 15 innings to the Angels on September 7 at Tiger Stadium.
