An escape.

Tigers 5, A’s 4

Rick Porcello (10 GS, 63 ⅔ IP, 3.82 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.0 fWAR) didn’t have a typical Porcello day. Sure he only allowed 2 runs in 5.2 innings, which fits the mold, but he walked six and hit one, which is very much not his style. The stuff was pretty good, but seemingly every pitch that needed to be a strike end up out of the zone. Luckily, some good fortune kept the runs at bay and the bays delivered. They scored one in the first, two in the fifth, and two in the seventh to support the effort from a variety of sources and they needed each, as Nathan allowed a pair in the 9th to make it too interesting. The win, when you think about it, actually earned them a split, even if it felt like they lose twelve times on Wednesday. They’ll take a clean slate to Seattle behind Justin Verlander (11 GS. 71 ⅓ IP, 4.04 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 1.6 fWAR) on Friday.

The Moment: Martinez adds some insurance with a two run double.