DETROIT_On a night in which Detroit Tigers 1968 World Series MVP Mickey Lolich threw out a ceremonial first pitch, Matthew Boyd put on his best Lolich impression.
Boyd turned in his best outing of the season in a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night at Comerica Park, striking out 11 batters over seven-plus innings.
Boyd was dominant against a Cardinals offense that has suddenly gone dormant against the Tigers: He allowed one run on two hits _ the only blemish a solo home run to Paul DeJong in the top of the eighth inning _ and walked one batter.
Boyd didn't get credited for the win after Shane Greene blew his sixth save of the season in the ninth inning, allowing a two-run home run to Marcell Ozuna. But Greene did, when the Tigers won on a walk-off for the second straight night.
Victor Reyes led off the ninth by reaching on an error by first baseman Matt Carpenter on a grounder down the right field line. The Tigers loaded the bases, and with Victor Martinez up, Bud Norris uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Reyes to score the winning run easily.
The Tigers jumped on St. Louis right-hander Jack Flaherty early, putting the first three men on base. They scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly.
The Tigers (59-83) have won four straight games, one shy of their longest winning streak of the season. They have won five games in September _ they won six last September.
Boyd was spectacular; there is no other way to put it. He struck out nine of the first 13 batters he faced, and set a career-high with 11 strikeouts. Before DeJong's home run, Boyd allowed one baserunner _ a double in the second inning. With the game still too close for comfort, he was pulled after the home run and a walk. Boyd has pitched very well in the second half. The outing lowered his season ERA to 4.11.
Flaherty was erratic to begin the game, unable to find the strike zone with any of his pitches, and the Tigers patiently capitalized. Jeimer Candelario walked, Jim Adduci singled and Nicholas Castellanos walked to open the game. Candelario scored on a wild pitch and Martinez hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field. Flaherty settled in, but the Tigers scored another important run in the fourth inning, when Candelario hit a bloop RBI single to center field.
