Miguel Cabrera hit a 3-run home run, his 11th of the year. Alex Avila added an RBI single. That was enough support for Rick Porcello, who surrendered only a 2-run home run and 6 hits in 6.2 innings pitched. He improved his record to 5-3 on the season.
Al Alburquerque got the final out of the 7th with a strikeout. The recently rock solid Joaquin Benoit pitched a perfect 8th. Jose Valverde was a little shaky in the 9th, and intentionally walked Justin Morneau to bring the go ahead run to the plate rather than letting Morneau tie it. But Valverde induced a game ending groundout to third to seal his 14th save of the season.
Alburquerque to Benoit to Valverde is a nasty series of late game power arms if they can stay dominant. If the starters keep going at least 6 innings like they have been, the Tigers will be in a lot of games. Carl Furbush is also showing himself to be another power arm in whatever spot they put him, if they even decide to keep him with the big league team to get only sporadic innings. He or Jacob Turner could also be the 5th starter next season so there is benefit to sending Furbush down to get regular starting work and seasoning. We'll see. But for all the bullpen shakiness there is also the potential that it could all gel into a dominant relief corp as well.
Detroit has now won 4 straight games. I think this is their fourth winning streak of at least 4 games this season. They've countered that with I believe four losing streaks of at least 4 as well.
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