Tigers 12, White Sox 0: Matt Boyd nearly no-hits Chicago

Matt Boyd gave us reason to watch the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. We could have been enjoying a nice, late-summer day in Michigan, with the sun shining and temperatures in the 80s. Eyes could have turned to Week 2 of the NFL season, though thankfully the home team’s scheduled called for a Monday night game instead.

But against the White Sox, Boyd was near perfect, and you had to find a radio or television to follow what was going on. Boyd got the first eight batters he faced out, walked catcher Rob Brantley with two outs in the third inning, then got the next 18 batters he faced out to nearly no-hit Chicago, en route helping the Tigers to a 12-0 win. Tim Anderson doubled with two outs in the ninth to end the bid.

The Tigers offense backed him early. Jeimer Candelario drove in Ian Kinsler in the first inning for a 1-0 lead after just two Detroit batters stepped to the plate. Nicholas Castellanos made it 3-0 in the third with a double, then 9-0 with a home run just three innings later because the offense had been busy. In the middle JaCoby Jones doubled in a run and Mikie Mahtook homered, too. Finally in the eighth Candelario finished the scoring with a big three run shot -- “right over Miggy’s Bit Bits,” Rod Allen noted on the Fox Sports Detroit telecast.

Roars

Matt Boyd — 1 hit, one walk, five strikeouts. Shutout.

Nicholas Castellanos — A home run, a double, and four RBI.

Jeimer Candelario — Hit his second home run as a Tiger, drove in four runs total, and knows how to play third base.

Your favorite Tiger here — Roars all the dang lineup today. This was a group effort on offense and defense alike.

Hisses

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