Field Level Media
Jul 6, 2018
Jordan Zimmermann struck out a season-high 11 batters and James McCann smashed a two-run homer as the Detroit Tigers edged the visiting Texas Rangers 3-1 at Comerica Park on Friday night.
Zimmermann (4-0) was masterful, limiting the high-powered Rangers to one run on four hits without allowing a walk. Joe Jimenez, filling in as the closer with Shane Greene on the 10-day disabled list, got the last three outs to record his third save.
McCann's homer was his fifth of the season. JaCoby Jones added his seventh homer for the other Tigers run. Detroit had lost 14 of its last 16 before taking the second game of the four-game series.
Shin-Soo Choo had two hits, including a leadoff homer, to provide the lone Rangers' run. Choo stretched his on-base streak to 45 games, longest in the majors this season.
Bartolo Colon (5-6) went the distance for the Rangers. He allowed three runs on five hits and didn't walk anyone while striking out three.
No one could have anticipated Zimmermann's dominant outing after he allowed Choo to lead off the game with a homer. It was Choo's 17th long ball of the season and third leadoff homer.
Zimmermann settled down quickly, striking out two batters in each of the first and second innings. The Tigers then took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second.
Victor Martinez led off with a single, and Jim Adduci hit into a force play. McCann then pulled his homer over the left field wall.
Ronald Guzman singled and reached second on a sacrifice bunt with two out in the top of the fifth before Zimmermann retired Delino DeShields on a strikeout.
Detroit had runners on first and third in the bottom of the inning when Ronny Rodriguez and Victor Reyes singled. But Colon held firm, setting down Jones on a fielder's choice groundout.
Zimmermann's strikeout total continued to climb in the sixth as he fanned Elvis Andrus and Nomar Mazara.
Zimmermann notched two more strikeouts in the seventh and caught Guzman looking in the eighth for his 11th punchout.
The Tigers got some insurance with two out on Jones' solo homer to left-center in the eighth.
--Field Level Media