Detroit, MI – Anibal Sanchez tossed eight scoreless innings and recorded a career-high 17 strikeouts as the Detroit Tigers routed the Atlanta Braves, 10-0, at Comerica Park.
Sanchez (3-1) gave up just five hits and a walk as he broke Mickey Lolich's club record for most strikeouts in a nine-inning game. Lolich twice struck out 16 hitters in 1969. Sanchez also set the mark for most strikeouts in an Interleague game in major league history.
Matt Tuiasosopo hit a home run and drove in a career-best five runs for the Tigers, who have won two of their last three contests. Victor Martinez had a pair of doubles and two RBI while Torii Hunter went 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
Braves starter Paul Maholm (3-2) got shelled in 3 2/3 innings of work, allowing eight earned runs and 10 hits. Atlanta has dropped two straight and five of seven.
The Tigers put four runs across in the third inning to give Sanchez early run support. Omar Infante led off with a double to left and advanced one bag on Austin Jackson's groundout. Hunter followed with a single to center, plating Infante. Martinez then ripped an RBI single of his own around Miguel Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta walks, and Tuiasosopo drove in two with a single through the hole between shortstop and third base.
Detroit broke the game open with six more runs an inning later, chasing Maholm from the game in the process. Jackson and Hunter each singled with one out, and Cabrera drove in Jackson with a single to right. Hunter came around to score on a Prince Fielder groundout, then Martinez rocketed his second double of the night to deep left field, plating Cabrera.
Anthony Varvaro took the mound with two outs and issued a walk to Peralta before Tuiasosopo homered to left.
Game Notes
Detroit's Jackson scored his major league leading 22nd run ... Chris Johnson and Andrelton Simmons each had two hits to pace Atlanta ... The Braves went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position ... Atlanta's Dan Uggla went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts ... Sanchez is the last major league pitcher to record 17 strikeouts since Brandon Morrow of Toronto in 2010.
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