Monday – Tigers 4, DBacks 3

Tuesday – DBacks 5, Tigers 4

Wednesday – Tigers 11, DBacks 5

Justin Verlander earned the win Monday.

Detroit led 3-0 behind two home runs, one from Torii Hunter with a man on, then a solo shot from Austin Jackson. Arizona loaded them up after scoring two, but Verlander got a groundout to get out of the jam.

After Arizona tied it in the 6th, Miguel Cabrera responded with an RBI single, scoring Jackson. Verlander recorded two outs later that inning before being pulled for Al-Al. Albuquerque let the tying run reach third base but managed to get out of it. “Vintage.”

Joba Chamberlain had the opposite effect on the 8th inning, going 1-2-3 with the final out taking three straight strikes.

Joe Nathan snarfed the first batter to a full count before striking him out looking, eventually earning his 20th save of the season. That secured the win for Verlander, who threw 116 pitches in those 6 2/3 innings for six hits, three runs, three walks, and five strikeouts.

*Rick Porcello was probably pulled too soon Tuesday. Manager Brad Ausmus made a rookie mistake substituting Porcello’s at bat with the bases loaded while our young snarf only had thrown 77 pitches. The gamble lost, as Rajai Davis struck out. Live and learn, Ausmus: you’re our man.

*The Tigers exacted revenge for Rick Wednesday, starting with a 7-0 lead and finishing a 7-5 comeback with four more runs in the 8th inning, three courtesy of Big Cat’s bat. DONG.