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Tigers Trounce Rays 8-1; Max Scherzer Pitches Superbly

By Nate Williams

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Jul 3, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Max Scherzer (37) pitches in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers took it to the Tampa Bay Rays in Detroit Thursday night winning by a score of 8-1. The Rays scored first, but the Tigers hit three homers in the bottom of the first and never looked back. It was the first time Detroit has hit three homeruns in the first inning since 2006.

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The win ended a five game win streak for the Rays as the Tigers have won four strait and 12 of their last 14.

Max Scherzer took the mound for the Tigers, in the first game of a four game series with the Rays. Less than one month removed from Scerzer’s first career complete game in June vs. the White Sox, Mad Max nearly did it again.

Following the five-run onslaught in the first, Scherzer took the reins and never let go, shutting down the Rays for eight solid innings.

Scherzer (10-3) allowed a first-inning sacrifice fly by Evan Longoria, but that was the first of 10 straight hitters retired by the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. After allowing a single in the fourth, Scherzer retired another 13 in a row before he was pulled with a pitch count of 106.

“Max didn’t miss a beat. He picked up right where he left off. He was incredible”-Tigers Manager, Brad Ausmus

Erik Bedard (4-6) allowed six runs and eight hits with two walks in two innings before being pulled.

J.D. Martinez plated a pair of runs, Miguel Cabrera had two doubles, a single and a walk for Detroit, and Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez and Torii Hunter all went deep on Thursday night.

Scherzer, coming off a 13-strikeout performance against Houston in his previous start, fanned seven with a walk, and the Detroit defense played well behind him. Scherzer has reached 10 wins every year since the Tigers traded for him before the 2010 season. He picked up his fourth straight win over the Rays and his 10th overall this season. He struck out seven and retired 23 of the final 24 batters he faced. In his last three starts, he’s allowed just four earned runs on 15 hits in 21 innings.

Game Notes:

Rays starter Erik Bedard didn’t stick around too long for the Rays. Bedard didn’t return for the third inning after giving up six runs on eight hits and two walks in two innings.

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    • With Martinez’s RBI’s, he is now tied for second in the American League with 25 RBIs since June 1. He went 2 for 4 and ranks fourth with a .354 batting average.

    Miguel Cabrera went 3 for 3 and is now one multi-hit game away from tying Rudy York (359) for the most multi-hit games in Tigers history. Cabrera scored four runs in a game for the fifth time in his career and first time since May 19, 2013.

    Game Two

    Detroit LHP Drew Smyly (4-7) faces Tampa Bay RHP Alex Cobb (3-6) on in Detroit on Friday night.

    The game begins at 7:08 on ESPN, SUN, & FSDT — 0r watch the Live Stream here.

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