Detroit Tigers vs Colorado Rockies Match Player Stats On Aug 28, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 29, 2017

DENVER -- The Detroit Tigers are in the midst of a trying season, particularly on the road.

They had lost nine of their past 10 games away from Comerica Park before Monday night, lowering their road record to 25-41. However, against that uninspiring backdrop, the Tigers made an early lead hold up and beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3.

Detroit starter Jordan Zimmermann (8-11) found his footing after two innings. The Tigers jumped on ineffective Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela (10-5) with two two-run innings, and five Detroit relievers combined to blank the Rockies for four innings.

Shane Greene worked the ninth to earn his sixth save in nine chances.

Colorado's Nolan Arenado, the major league leader with 108 RBIs, led off the ninth with a line drive that second baseman Ian Kinsler jumped for and caught. A disgusted Arenado heaved his bat to the ground. Greene then struck out Gerardo Parra and Mark Reynolds to end the game.

The Rockies, who began a nine-game homestand, fell two games behind the idle Arizona Diamondbacks in the race for the first National League wild card. Colorado leads the Milwaukee Brewers by three games and the Miami Marlins by 4 1/2 in the chase for the second wild-card spot.

Coming off a series win at Atlanta, the Rockies were trying to win three straight games for the first time since Aug. 3-5. They outhit the Tigers 13-9 Monday but still lost for the 13th time in 20 games. The latest defeat left the Rockies 11-14 in August, assuring them of their first losing month this season.

The Tigers are 10-16 this month after winning for just the fourth time in 14 games and sixth time in 22 games.

The Rockies loaded the bases with one out in the sixth against Warwick Saupold on consecutive singles and a walk. However, Saupold struck out Arenado and gave way to left-hander Daniel Stumpf, who struck out Parra on a 95.9 mph fastball to end the inning.

After yielding seven runs in each of his past three starts, Zimmermann gave up three runs and nine hits in five innings with one walk and three strikeouts.

He settled down after giving up three runs in the second, the first two on Jonathan Lucroy's first homer with the Rockies and the last when Trevor Story doubled and scored on Charlie Blackmon's broken-bat single.

In his final three innings, Zimmermann limited the Rockies to three singles, two coming with two outs. After throwing 58 pitches in two innings, Zimmermann got through his final three frames on 45 pitches.

Senzatela issued consecutive one-out walks in the third, prompting a mound visit from Rockies manager Bud Black, who spoke emphatically to the rookie pitcher. However, three pitches later, Nicholas Castellanos turned on a slider and drove the ball into the left field corner for a two-run triple, putting the Tigers ahead 4-3.

Senzatela lasted a season- and career-low 3 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and four runs with three walks and two strikeouts. He threw just 47 of 82 pitches for strikes.

Lucroy's first home run with the Rockies came on his 59th at-bat with the club and tied the game at 2-2 in the second. Ian Desmond bounced a single up the middle to lead off, and Lucroy followed with a two-run homer, driving Zimmermann's 1-0 slider into the left field stands for his fifth long ball this season overall.

Story followed with a double to right-center. Senzatela sacrificed him to third, trying to get out of the way of an inside pitch that hit his bat as he turned. Blackmon's single gave the Rockies a 3-2 lead in what turned out to be a 30-pitch inning for Zimmermann.

The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the first. With one out, Alex Presley tripled off the top of the fence in right-center. Justin Upton lined a double over the head of center fielder Blackmon and scored after a Miguel Cabrera walked and a Castellanos single. Senzatela escaped further harm by getting Mikie Mahtook to ground into an inning-ending double play.

NOTES: Rockies RF Carlos Gonzalez was scratched from the lineup due to a sore left ankle. ... Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera left the game in the fifth due to lower back tightness. ... Rockies LF/1B Ian Desmond (strained right calf) was reinstated, and OF Raimel Tapia was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Tigers RHP Anibal Sanchez (left hamstring strain) is scheduled to throw 65-75 pitches Thursday for low Class A West Michigan in what will be his only rehab start. ... Detroit LHP Daniel Norris (left groin strain) is scheduled to throw up to about 90 pitches Thursday for Triple-A Toledo in his fourth rehab start.