Morning Box Score: Tigers Run Streak to 11, Dempster Lets it All Hang Out
We caught some flack on the Chicagoist Twitter feed yesterday from a couple of followers who objected to our contention the White Sox "gave" the Tigers a 10-game winning streak. "The Tigers earned it," they said. Earning it last night was a lot easier with Tigers ace and probable AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander on the mound. Verlander shut out the Sox over seven innings but the Sox did have their chances against a pitcher they used to own. The White Sox stranded 10 runners on base and were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Gavin Floyd, meanwhile, earned the loss giving up four runs on four hits in 5-1/3 innings.
Ryan Dempster, who at the start of the season couldn't find Lake Michigan if he was standing on the shoreline, turned in his 19th quality start of the season last night at the Great American Ball Park. Dempster and Reds starter Mike Leake locked into a pitching duel for most of the game. Dempster threw 128 pitches over seven innings, but a Brandon Phillips home run and Edgar Renteria single proved enough for the Reds to pick up the win.
