SPORTS

Cabrera hurt, Sanchez brilliant, Tigers hold on

Chris McCosky
The Detroit News

Detroit — Alex Avila was second-guessing himself afterward for his pitch selection to Ezequiel Carrera in the top of the eighth inning.

Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez was five outs from his second career no-hitter.

"I could tell Sanchy was getting a little tired," he said. "His change-up was filthy early. It was really good. I thought, 'If he throws one down here, like he was earlier in the game, he gets a strikeout.' I should have known better. Should have called for a fastball.

"Next time."

Carrera, the former Tiger whose two throwing errors helped fuel a five-run Tigers fourth, lashed a single to left field. It not only spoiled the no-hit bid, it led to a six-run uprising that almost ruined the whole night.

"In the seventh inning, when I got through the power part of their lineup — Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion — that's when I said, 'OK, I have a chance to get a no-no," Sanchez said. "But, it didn't happen."

BOX SCORE: Tigers 8, Blue Jays 6

Sanchez would give up three hits and be charged with four runs in the eighth, but the Tigers were able to hold on for a much-needed 8-6 win, ending a three-game losing streak.

"I feel good, especially because the team won," Sanchez said. "We need to start doing something, everybody. Everybody played hard today. We showed we can be competitive in every situation. Today was a good day."

Well, not completely.

Miguel Cabrera strained his left calf and came out of the game in the fourth inning. He was administered an MRI but the results were not immediately released.

"We're really pending another doctor's opinion, before we really pinpoint exactly what it is," manager Brad Ausmus said. "It's the calf, not the Achilles, at this point."

Running on a 3-2 pitch to Victor Martinez in the fourth inning, Cabrera pulled up abruptly, hobbling on his left leg. He motioned immediately for trainer Kevin Rand and was helped off the field.

"He's out," Ausmus said. "I'm not optimistic he's going to avoid the DL at this point. But we'll know more tomorrow, for sure."

For Avila, it was his first game back off the disabled list, but his chemistry with Sanchez wasn't at all diminished by his long absence.

"Amazing," Sanchez said. "We talked about it. Like, 'You are in the minor leagues, just back from the DL and that happens?' It had to be amazing for everybody, especially for him. We put a really good game plan in before the game and we brought it into the game.

"I've been with Alex the last four years, we've got a pretty good combination."

Avila, though, wishes he had that 3-2 pitch back to Carrera.

"We've been in that situation many, many times over the past few years where he's got a no-hitter going into the last couple innings," Avila said. "We were actually just talking about it, that every time he's lost one, he's shaken me off and then the next one is a base hit.

"So this time, he was thinking, 'Don't shake Alex off, don't shake Alex off.' He didn't and gives up a base hit. So I screwed that one up."

The eighth inning stained it, but Sanchez left to a rousing standing ovation.

It was the second near no-no for Sanchez, who threw a no-hitter in his rookie season in 2006 with the Marlins. He was one out from another against the Twins on May 24, 2013. Joe Mauer broke that up with a single.

"Sanchez did a great job," Ausmus said. "I think he just got a little weary at the end. Pitch count was up. You get a little tired, you lose a little bit of your control."

Sanchez walked three and retired 16 straight batters at one stretch. But the Blue Jays kept pecking in the eighth. Sanchez would give up three hits and be charged with four runs — not even a quality start.

Alex Wilson gave up two hits, including a bases-clearing double by Dioner Navarro.

But Bruce Rondon got out of the eighth, retiring Kevin Pillar on a fly to center, and Joakim Soria (18 saves) pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out Josh Donaldson to end it.

chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com

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