A record setting affair.

Marlins 2, Tigers 1

Anibal Sanchez (29 GS, 182 IP, 2.57 ERA, 2.39 FIP, 6.2 WAR) didn’t hang around that long, but he hung around long enough to give the Tigers the single season strikeout record and he hung around long enough to tie his career best in strikeouts at 202. He also hung around long enough to give the Tigers 5 shutout innings with 8 strikeouts, no walks, and just 2 hits as the Tigers led the Marlins in Miami until the 9th inning. They didn’t manage much offense – just a single run – but Sanchez was good enough to set the bullpen up to take this one the distance before Benoit allowed the equalizer and Reed melted down in the 10th. The loss means the Tigers can only win 94 on the season and cannot tie the ’06 and ’11 teams in wins with a victory on the final day of the season behind Justin Verlander (33 GS, 212.1 IP, 3.56 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 4.8 WAR) who isn’t quite ready to cede his place atop the Tigers rotation entering the postseason. It’s unclear who Leyland plans to give the ball to on Friday in Oakland, but there’s a good chance that with a little magic on Sunday, Verlander might be his guy.

The Moment: Sanchez strikes out Chris Coghlan to give the Tigers the single season strikeout record.