Seventy-five years after the Tigers and Reds battled for seven games in the 1940 World Series, their opener of a four-game home-and-home Interleague series wasn’t much of a contest. Miguel Cabrera’s two-run double and J.D. Martinez’s third home run in as many days supported Anibal Sanchez’s two-hit shutout in a 6-0 Tigers win Monday night at Comerica Park.
Sanchez (5-7) allowed a pair of early singles and four balls in play out of the infield, facing one batter over the minimum as he extended his scoreless streak to 20 2/3 innings. He retired the final 16 batters he faced following Joey Votto’s fourth-inning bunt single against the Tigers’ infield shift, sending him on his way to his seventh career shutout and first since May 24, 2013.
“Location I think was the most important thing today,” Sanchez said. “I was able to mix the pitches. [Catcher James] McCann called a great game today. I give a lot of credit to him.”
The Reds’ misfortunes began in the opening inning, when right-handed starter Jon Moscot dislocated his left shoulder applying a diving tag in a rundown with Tigers leadoff hitter Anthony Gose. The injury not only began a procession of Reds relievers to cover the next 7 1/3 innings, but it also set the tone for an adventurous evening by Cincinnati’s defense.
“It’s tough,” said Cincinnati manager Bryan Price. “The kid’s worked his tail off to get this opportunity.”
Pedro Villarreal (0-1) matched Sanchez for the next few innings until Yoenis Cespedes doubled over Brennan Boesch and scored on a Todd Frazier throwing error. Catcher Tucker Barnhart’s errant throw in the sixth on Gose’s second steal of the night became irrelevant when Cabrera doubled in Gose and Ian Kinsler. Martinez followed with a loft over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center.
Click here to read more of this story.
About Marion Online Sports
