The Cleveland Indians scored the first two runs of the game in the first inning, a continuation of the drubbing they handed the Detroit Tigers in the first game of a traditional double header only a half-hour or so earlier. The Tigers took it from there, scoring nine straight runs to win 9-2.
The first inning was a struggle for Tigers starter Randy Wolf. He threw 50 pitches. He walked a run in. Somehow he only allowed two to score, keeping the game from getting out of hand. He managed to stick around for three innings, giving up four hits and four walks but without allowing any more runs to score. The Tigers' bullpen took it from there, with Drew VerHagen, Neftali Feliz and Jose Valdez working six scoreless to preserve the win.
Meanwhile nearly the entire Tigers lineup got in the act. J.D. Martinez had three hits and three RBI. Rajai Davis, Nick Castellanos, Alex Avila, and Dixon Machado all added a pair of hits. Detroit finished with 15 and five walks.
The Tigers lost the first game of the set earlier in the day, 7-2.
ROARS:
J.D. Martinez -- J.D. has three hits and drove in three runs -- including tying the game up in the third with a single.
The rest of the offense, too -- Five Tigers had multi-hit games, including J.D. Martinez (3 hits), Rajai Davis (2), Nick Castellanos (3), Alex Avila (2), and Dixon Machado (2). Tyler Collins had a hit and two walks. Castellanos scored a pair of runs.
The Tigers bullpen -- How often do we get to roar the bullpen? Drew VerHagen has to share the billing after throwing two scoreless, hitless innings, because the rest of the crew did just fine, too. Neftali Feliz allowed a hit and walk in two innings. Jose Valdez didn't give up a baserunner in two innings to close the game.
HISSES:
Randy Wool's first inning. More like Randy woof.
A 50-pitch inning? pic.twitter.com/bWXCVbkGWu
— Bless You Boys (@blessyouboys) September 13, 2015
STREAKS AND STATS:
- Randy Wolf threw 50 pitches in the first inning. In comparison, Justin Verlander's 48th pitch didn't come until the fourth inning in the earlier game of the double header.
- Dixon Machado earned his first career RBI to break the tie in the third inning. He finished with two.
- Drew VerHagen was awarded his career-first win for his two innings of relief.
WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:
Source: FanGraphs