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 The 36-year-old right-hander blanked Detroit on six hits over seven
innings Friday night and the Texas Rangers' bullpen made two early
runs stand up for a 2-0 victory over the Tigers.
Lewis (14-5) equaled his single-season high for wins, previously set
in 2011. He was helped by three double plays and a challenge that
took a Detroit run off the scoreboard, but he walked just one batter
while striking out two.
"Colby makes it difficult for you to scratch out anything," Texas
manager Jeff Banister said. "He's very stingy.
"He's able to get his slider in play. He throws his fastball where
he wants to and can spot it to both sides of the plate. And when he
doubles up (throws the same pitch twice in a row), he doubles up
with a purpose. His slider has made him."
Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said, "Lewis did a nice job of
containing damage. Sometimes you have nights like that."
Lewis added, "Fourteen wins, is that what I've got? Wins and losses
are one of those things where you win if the team scores enough
runs. I think it was two or three starts ago I gave up seven runs
and they scored me 14."
Right-hander Keone Kela pitched a perfect eighth for Texas.
Right-hander Shawn Tolleson gave up a leadoff double to Tigers first
baseman Miguel Cabrera in the ninth before striking out three in a
row for his 24th save.
"To get the strikeouts (after Cabrera doubled), that was one of the
better save opportunities," Banister said.
Hard-luck Justin Verlander (1-6) dropped his ERA for his past six
starts to 1.67, but he is just 1-3 in that stretch due to
insufficient run support. Verlander struck out eight, walked one and
gave up four hits in seven innings. He allowed two runs (one
earned).
"I think he's given up one earned run or fewer in six of his last
eight games, with one win," Ausmus said. "He pitched well, except he
got the loss.
"He had one tough inning. Other than that, he's been outstanding. He
had a little trouble early with command of his fastball. He made the
adjustment, and in the second half of the game, he was much more
efficient."
Cabrera doubled in each of his last three times up, twice leading
off and once with one out, but didn't score a run. He is now hitting
.363 but lacks enough at-bats to qualify among the American League
leaders.
Texas scored single runs off Verlander in the second and third
innings. The latter run was unearned as a result of the Detroit
pitcher's throwing error.
Shortstop Elvis Andrus singled with one out in the second and scored
on a two-out double to left-center by left fielder Will Venable.
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Rangers center fielder Delino DeShields beat out a bunt single to
begin the third and went to third base when Verlander threw wildly
past first on a pickoff try. DeShields scored on a sacrifice fly to
left by first baseman Prince Fielder.
Detroit squandered two good chances.
Left fielder Tyler Collins grounded into an inning-ending double
play with the bases loaded in the third. Cabrera, who doubled
leading off the fourth, was called out at the plate after a
successful Texas challenge when he tried to score from second on a
two-out single to left by third baseman Nick Castellanos. The safe
call was overturned.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus was tossed from the game after the sixth
inning. He came out seeking an explanation as to why his challenge
of Cabrera getting doubled off first on a liner to second by
designated hitter Victor Martinez. Once he was ejected, he was told
Cabrera was out when Andrus caught the throw from the second baseman
but Cabrera had beaten the second touch try at second.
"We had a ton of opportunities," Ausmus said. "Lewis pitched pretty
well and so did their relievers. Probably the bases-loaded
opportunity was the real big one that was missed."
NOTES: Texas remains in third place in the American League West
standings for a 55th consecutive day. ... Tigers third base coach
Dave Clark will miss the next three games because his daughter is
getting married. First base coach Omar Vizquel will switch to third,
and Alan Trammell will take over at first. ... Both of Saturday's
starters will be making just their second career appearance against
his opponent. RHP Yovani Gallardo has pitched against the Tigers
just once, and LHP Randy Wolf, who has spent much of his career in
the National League, has faced the Rangers only one time.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
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