The Detroit Tigers carried a combined no-hitter into the ninth inning, striking out 17 batters and earning a 1-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the ALCS.
Tigers vs. Red Sox ALCS Game 1: Detroit fans 17 in 1-0 one-hitter
Detroit set a franchise record for most strikeouts in a postseason game.
Anibal Sanchez tossed the first six innings of the game. The starter had filthy stuff, striking out 12 Red Sox hitters. He did battle his command, walking six and throwing 116 pitches before being pulled after the bottom of the sixth inning.
Sanchez’s start was one of the more unique to take place during the playoffs. He joins Charles Nagy as the only postseason starter to strike out 12 in no more than six innings pitched, and Walter Johnson as the only other pitcher to strike out at least 12 while walking at least six.
The Red Sox's best opportunity to score came in the bottom of the sixth. Sanchez walked the bases loaded, but struck out Stephen Drew to escape the jam:
Al Alburquerque, Jose Veras, Drew Smyly and Joaquin Benoit closed out the game for the Tigers. Benoit surrendered a one-out single to Daniel Nava, the only Red Sox hit of the game:
Benoit finished the game despite allowing the hit, recording a Drew flyout and Xander Bogaerts popout for the final two outs of the ninth.
The four Tigers relievers combined to strike out five Boston hitters, giving Detroit pitchers 17 strikeouts on the night. That set the Tigers' franchise record for strikeouts in a postseason game, which they previously set earlier this year against the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the ALDS.
Detroit scored its one and only run in the top of the sixth. Jhonny Peralta laced a two-out single to center field, driving in Miguel Cabrera from third base:
Peralta led the Tigers offense with three hits, including a leadoff double in the top of the fifth. He did made a critical baserunning error during the inning, getting picked off second base by Mike Napoli on an Omar Infante groundout:
The Tigers had more opportunities to score in the later innings, but failed to plate any more runners. They left the bases loaded in the eighth, and stranded two more runners in scoring position during the top of the ninth. Drew made a spectacular catch on a Prince Fielder fly ball, saving two runs:
The Tigers' 1-0 win marks the first time in MLB postseason history that two games ended with final scores of 1-0 on the same day. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 in Game 2 of the NLDS earlier on Saturday.
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