A Scher thing.

Tigers 5, Pirates 2

Max Scherzer (25 GS, 169 IP, 2.98 ERA, 2.75 FIP, 4.6 fWAR) was tired of fan malaise and just decided to make sure no one was complaining after this one. He started by getting his first seven outs on strikeouts, mixing in a cost stealing, and winding up adding eight more over the course of his afternoon. He was dominant and most of the Pirates had no chance up there today as he went full on Blue Eye. The Tigers got a big home run from JD Martinez and tacked on another run, but then busted it open in the bottom of the 8th to avoid any unpleasant “Joe Nathan pitches.” Coke got the 9th, walked the leadoff man and allowed a home run but Joba made sure it ended there. The two home wins in the series were much needed and they’ll get a chance to put some distance between themselves and Austin Jackson’s Mariners starting Friday behind Rick Porcello (22 GS, 150.1 IP, 3.11 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 2.6 fWAR).

The Moment: Scherzer gets a ground out and pumps his fist to a standing ovation after 8 scoreless.