DETROIT — Anibal Sanchez still hasn’t been with the Tigers for a full season, but he’s already in the team’s record books.
Sanchez set a franchise record for strikeouts by a pitcher in a nine-inning game by striking out 17 Braves batters as the Tigers defeated Atlanta 10-0 in their series opener at Comerica Park.
Sanchez capped off his night by striking out the side in the eighth inning. The last strikeout gave him one more than Mickey Lolich had on two separate occasions in 1969. Lolich struck out 16 against California on May 23, 1969 and also against Seattle on June 9th of the same year.
The Tigers gave Sanchez plenty of run support with two huge innings. The Tigers scored four runs in the third inning and then added six more in the very next inning. Matt Tuiasosopo went 2-for-4 with 5 RBI’s including a 3-run home run in the fourth inning that capped the scoring.
