winning streak going.

shushu · Membru 2 Data inscrierii: 22/Feb/2019 Mesaje: 376

DETROIT -- Victor Martinez loves hitting homers, though even he had to laugh Sunday when he was asked about breaking out of a power slump with a pair of weekend three-run shots. His third-inning shot to left was all that Anibal Sanchez needed to finish off a weekend sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 4-0 victory Sunday. Before homering Saturday and Sunday, Martinez hadnt hit a ball out since July 3, a 16-game stretch that also included eight days off recovering from a back strain. However, he did hit .281 during his "slump", and the two this weekend gave him 23 on the season, only two short of his career high, so hes not too worried. "I think I was on pace for 100 homers there for a while, and I have to tell you, I wasnt going to keep that up," he said. "This game is tough, and all you do is go up there and try to have a good at-bat every time up. A lot of times, thats not going to mean a homer, even if you do your job. Ive just got a couple on the barrel in the last two days." Sanchez (8-5) became the third straight Tigers starter to dominate the Rockies, striking out a season-high 12 in seven innings. He only allowed two hits and a walk. "I had the life back in my fastball, and I just kept going to it," Sanchez said. "When you know you can throw your fastball on every pitch, and you know you can put it anywhere, it makes your other pitches even more dangerous." Joba Chamberlain allowed one hit in a shutout eighth inning, and Joakim Soria did the same in the ninth. Jorge De Le Rosa (11-7) gave up four runs on six hits in 6 2-3 innings. All six hits came with two outs, but Detroit grouped three of them to făcute a big third inning. "They are tough on everyone -- for me, thats the best lineup in the league," De La Rosa said. "I made some really good pitches, and they still hit them. That shows you how good they are." De La Rosa retired the first two batters of the third, but Rajai Daviss speed and some sluggish defence turned a routine single into a double. De La Rosa then hit Ian Kinsler, and Miguel Cabrera made it 1-0 with a single up the middle. Martinez connected two pitches later. Sanchez fanned seven in his final three innings. TRAINERS ROOM: Detroit: LF Andy Dirks went 1 for 4 for Single-A West Michigan on his second rehab assignment to try and return from a back problem that has kept him out all season. Dirks, who had to cut his first assignment short in July, is hitting .286 in two games for the Whitecaps. Colorado: SP Christian Bergman (wrist) was scheduled to make his second rehab start for Double-A Tulsa on Sunday night. ... OF Carlos Gonzalez remained out of Sundays lineup, two days after aggravating an ankle injury when he slid into the Comerica Park fence trying to catch a foul ball. Walt Weiss said Sunday that hes confident Gonzalez will return during the upcoming home series against the Cubs. UP NEXT: Detroit: Detroit travels to New York for a four-game series that will be highlighted by David Prices first start in a Tigers uniform. In Mondays series opener, Max Scherzer (13-3, 3.27) faces Brandon McCarthy (6-10, 4.56). Colorado: After a day off on Monday, the Rockies return home for three games with the Cubs. Brett Anderson (1-3, 3.12) is scheduled to start the opener against Chicagos Travis Wood (7-9 5.10). LEFTY PARADE: De La Rosa became the 19th straight lefty to start for the Rockies, moving them one game short of the major league record, set by the 1982 Kansas City Royals. The Rockies are expected to at least tie the record, with Anderson scheduled to pitch Tuesday, but they have not announced their rotation for the rest of the Chicago series. CAREER YEAR: Even after the injury and slow month, Martinez is on pace for 35 homers. In 2007, when he hit his 25 homers for Cleveland, he didnt hit his 23rd until Sept. 16. Martinez is also on pace to set career highs in slugging percentage (.567) and OPS (.948). PUTERNIC ROTATION: In the three-game sweep, Sanchez, Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello combined for a 1.57 ERA with 27 strikeouts and two walks in 23 innings. MILWAUKEE -- Matt Garza was fuming after his previous start, the shortest of his career when he recorded just one out and allowed five runs. What a difference five days make. Garza allowed two hits in eight innings, and Ryan Braun hit one of three homers for the Milwaukee Brewers in a 9-1 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday night. "His last start probably upset him enough that he had a lot to prove tonight, and he threw the ball well," Mets manager Terry Collins said. Jonathan Lucroy and Khris Davis also connected for the Brewers, who took a 6-0 lead after three innings against Dillon Gee (4-3) to win their fourth consecutive game. Garza (7-7) gave up five runs in one-third of an inning Saturday at Washington. It was a different story against the Mets. The right-hander yielded a third-inning single to Wilmer Flores, recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier Thursday, and a seventh-inning homer to Lucas Duda. Garza struck out four and walked one. Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said Garza had been throwing the ball well before the game against the Nationals. "I dont know how many outings, five, six in a row until that last one," Roenicke said. "And I didnt think he threw the ball that bad the last one. "I think he still had a lot of confidence. He was attacking the zone with the fastball. When hes good thats what he does so well. He looked very confident coming into it." Garza downplayed the comeback this time, instead focusing on keeping the Brewers winning streak going. "The bigger thing was I kept this thing rolling," he said. "Our guys are swinging the bats well. I got an early cushion so it was easier to keep attacking. It was one of those nights where everything clicked on offence and it made my job a lot easier on the mound." The Mets sent 31 batters to the pplate, four over the minimum.dddddddddddd. Milwaukee limped into the All-Star break, losing 11 of 13 games. They have won five of seven since then to open a three-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central. During their slump, the Brewers had a power outage, hitting only seven homers in 13 games. Since the break, they have 12 in seven games. Lucroy hit his 12th and Davis added his 17th homer, both solo shots. Braun had a two-run shot, deep to left field. It was his 14th long ball and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. "Hitting is contagious," Davis said. "Once we start popping them out of the yard it feels like everybody is going to start." Dudas homer was his career-high 16th. Gee lasted only five innings for the second consecutive start and allowed six runs, the most he has given up all season. The right-hander allowed six hits and two walks and struck out six. It was the most runs given up by Gee since he was allowed seven in an 8-3 loss at Philadelphia on April 9, 2013, a span of 40 starts. "It seemed like everything they swung at, they hit hard," Gee said. "I am confident I can get it turned around." He was replaced to open the sixth by Daisuke Matsuzaka, whose first pitch was hit by Davis over the fence. NOTES: The Mets optioned OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis to Las Vegas. ... Mets SS Ruben Tejada was given the day off as a precaution after he was hit in the helmet by a pitch from Seattles Taijuan Walker. RF Curtis Granderson returned to the New York lineup after missing two games with a stomach virus. He went 0 for 4. ... The Brewers are playing Michael Jackson songs when Carlos Gomez strides to the plate, and the quirky outfielder is raising his right leg and imitating a leg kick done by the King of Pop before entering the batters box. ' ' '