DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers arent just winning games this week.
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making history. One night after Rajai Davis hit Detroits first game-ending grand
slam in 10 years, Rick Porcello significantly raised the bar. In a 3-0 win over
Oakland, Porcello became just the fourth pitcher in franchise history to throw a
shutout without walking or striking out a batter, and the first since Dizzy
Trout in 1944. Porcello was slightly disappointed by his 95-pitch outing, even
after learning how rare it was. "In the last couple innings, I was hoping Id get
at least one strikeout," he said. "I didnt want to go out there and put up a
zero. Still, with a game like this, Im certainly not going to trade it in for
anything." Porcello recorded 17 groundball outs and 10 in the air while becoming
the first major-leaguer to accomplish the feat since Baltimores Jeff Ballard on
Aug. 21, 1989. Porcello was eight months old when Ballard did it against
Milwaukee. "To be honest, it was pretty boring out there," said Torii Hunter,
who didnt record an out in right field. "But that just shows you how great he
was tonight. He was throwing that sinker right down the middle, and it was
dropping out of the strike zone, and they were just beating it into the ground."
The As got three singles and a double, and only got one runner to third base.
"Our guys were swinging at strikes, but everything was moving," Oakland manager
Bob Melvin said. "Hes got a good sinker and a good change-up, and now hes mixing
in a good breaking ball to keep you off balance. Thats just a very well-pitched
game by him." Porcellos night might have been historic, but it certainly didnt
come out of the blue. He pitched his first career shutout in his previous start,
beating the Rangers on June 26, and pitched six shutout innings against
Cleveland on June 20. "I dont want to jinx it," he joked when asked about his
shutout streak. "All I know is that Im throwing the ball really well right now,
Im making consistent pitches when I need them, and my defence is helping me out.
Im also getting some good breaks, which every pitcher needs." Porcello (11-4)
only had one career complete game before this stretch, but is now the first
Tigers pitcher since Jack Morris to throw back-to-back shutouts. Morris threw
three in a row in July, 1986. "Obviously, Rick is throwing the ball extremely
well right now," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "He had a great curveball and
changeup tonight, and the sinker was better than that. It makes my job a lot
easier when the starter has only thrown 88 pitches through eight innings."
Brad Mills (1-1) took the loss for Oakland, allowing three runs on six hits and
three walks in six-plus innings. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when
Miguel Cabrera walked, took third on J.D. Martinezs double and scored on a
groundout by Hunter. Oakland, in the meantime, was becoming the latest team to
struggle for answers against Porcello, managing only two hits in the first six
innings. Martinez, starting for the second straight night while Victor Martinez
deals with soreness in his left side, made it 3-0 with a two-run homer in the
sixth. After moving into the everyday lineup in early June, J.D. Martinez is
hitting .376 with seven homers and 20 RBIs in 19 games. "I threw him a change,
and I think he was sitting on it," Mills said. "I certainly didnt locate it
where I wanted it." After that, the only suspense was if Porcello could finish
off the shutout, and do it with a double-digit pitch count. He accomplished
both, becoming the first Tigers pitcher to throw a shutout in under 100 pitches
since Armando Galarraga in 2010. That was the game Galarraga had to face an
extra hitter after first base umpire Jim Joyce blew the call on what should have
been the last out in a perfect game. NOTES: Victor Martinez took batting
practice before the game, and told Ausmus that he could play, but Ausmus decided
to rest him for another day. ... Tigers 3B Nick Castellanos took full advantage
of his position in Detroits shifted defence, picking up a pair of 5-3 assists
while playing in short right field. ... Oakland C Derek Norris is getting closer
to returning from a sore back, and could play in Wednesdays series finale. ...
The time of the game was 2:13, meaning that a 7:08 start ended less than 10
minutes after sunset. ... As OF Yoenis Cespedes sat out after leaving Mondays
game with a cramp in his hamstring, but Melvin said he will be available on
Wednesday.
Jordi Alba Jersey . - Young and old.
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Leafs will play on the road for the first time this season after dropping home
contests to Montreal and Pittsburgh to begin the campaign. After losing a
one-goal decision to the Canadiens on Wednesday, they were bested 5-2 on
Saturday by the Penguins.CLEVELAND -- Defenceman Matt Hunwick scored the winner
with a short-handed goal in the third period as the Lake Erie Monsters snapped
Torontos three-game winning streak, edging the Marlies 2-1 in American Hockey
League action Thursday. Troy Bodies power-play goal at 19:01 of the first period
gave Toronto (12-8-11) a 1-0 lead.
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tied it for Lake Erie (11-9-1) with a power-play goal in the second period.
Calvin Pickard turned back 30 shots for the Monsters, while Marlies goalie
Christopher Gibson stopped 21. The Marlies were 1 for 7 on the power play, and
the Monsters were 1 for 5.
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