All Smyles.

Tigers 5, Indians 1

Drew Smyly (16 GS, 94.2 IP, 3.80 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 0.8 fWAR) hadn’t exactly been cruising through recent starts, but he definitely found a groove today, twirling seven innings of one run baseball, allowing six runners and striking out six with the only run coming on a solo shot.  The breaking ball was as good as it’s been in some time and his offense backed him with four reasonably early runs and one late courtesy of leadoff hits by Jackson and Kinsler paired with two fly outs and then a two runs shot from Hunter in the 4th. Castellanos scored Hunter in the 8th with a double way up the RCF gap to make it a 5-1 game. Nathan came on in the 9th and didn’t even allow a baserunner! The Tigers will head west having salvaged one with Justin Verlander (20 GS, 129 IP, 4.88 ERA, 4.02 FIP, 1.8 fWAR) meeting the Dbacks on Monday.

The Moment: Hunter gives the Tigers some insurance with a two run blast.