The Detroit Tigers have not allowed the Boston Red Sox to get a hit through 8 innings, needing three more outs to record the third no-hitter in MLB postseason history.
Tigers throwing a combined no-hitter through 8
Detroit pitchers have fanned 16 Boston hitters, tying the Tigers postseason record.
Anibal Sanchez worked the first six innings. The starter flashed overpowering stuff, striking out 12 Red Sox hitters. Boston remained patient, drawing six walks against Sanchez and forcing him to throw 116 pitches.
Jim Leyland pulled Sanchez after the sixth, bringing in Al Alburquerque. The flame-throwing reliever worked a perfect bottom of the seventh, turning the game over to Jose Veras.
Veras struck out Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia in the bottom of the eighth, recording the 15th and 16th strikeouts of the night for Detroit pitchers. That tied the Tigers' postseason record for strikeouts in a game, which was set during Game 1 of the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics:
Pedroia’s strikeout came on a fastball that just caught the corner of the strike zone, but the second baseman was frustrated with the call:
Drew Smyly relieved Veras to record the final out of the eighth, getting David Ortiz to fly out to center field.
Boston is scheduled to send Mike Napoli, Daniel Nava and Stephen Drew to the plate, presumably to face Tigers closer Joaquin Benoit.
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