SPORTS

Live Tigers blog: Chacin sparkles against Tigers

Geoff Robinson
The Detroit News
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws to the plate during the first inning.

FINAL: ANGELS 5, TIGERS 1

Justin Verlander was going good in his pitcher's duel with Jhoulys Chacin, but he came up on the losing end as a pair of hits to start the eighth inning snowballed on him and allowed the Angels to score the game's only runs.

Verlander and Chacin both took perfect games into the fifth inning, with Chacin taking his into the sixth before Andrew Romine and Ian Kinsler notched back-to-back singles.

The Tigers couldn't take advantage of having two men on base in either the sixth or seventh innings as they lost for the fourth time in five games.

Chacin came back out for the ninth and gave up a leadoff double to J.D. Martinez, who would score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Victor Martinez before Chacin calmly finished off the complete game.

Chacin's final line: 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, 114 pitches

Verlander had given up just one hit entering the eighth inning, but his final line didn't tell the story of how good he really was tonight: 4 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 116 pitches

Bottom 8th: Angels 5, Tigers 0

Despite a visit from Brad Ausmus, Justin Verlander stayed in the game with his pitch count at 104. Cliff Pennington tried to bunt with runners on the corners twice, but he popped both up into foul territory. With the count at 0-2, Pennington went the other way and singled to bring home the game's first run.

Carlos Perez bunted the runners up to second and third base with a sacrifice, bringing up Gregorio Petit to the dish with two men in scoring position. Petit put the ball in play, where Andrew Romine made a great snag but a bad throw to the plate as the second run scored. The third came around when James McCann decided to make a poor decision as he threw the ball away down the first baseline to bring home another run and make it 3-0, Angels.

Verlander finally got the hook with his pitch count at 116 in favor of Buck Farmer, who gave up a pair of two-out, RBI singles to Albert Pujols and C.J. Cron that stretched the Anaheim lead to 5-0.

Johnny Giavotella and Rafael Ortega notched the Angels' second and third hits of the night with singles to start the eighth inning, putting runners on the corners for Pennington.

Top 8th: Tigers 0, Angels 0

Jhoulys Chacin is through eight innings having given up just three hits while striking out nine Tigers hitters.

James McCann grounded out, Andrew Romine struck out swinging and Ian Kinsler grounded out as offense just hasn't been easy to come by for any hitter tonight in Anaheim.

I'm not sure how long of a leash Chain has. He's thrown 106 pitches tonight.

Bottom 7th: Tigers 0, Angels 0

Justin Verlander continues to get better with every start. He's allowed just one hit through the first seven innings and he's needed to be that good as he hasn't gotten a single run of support from his teammates against Jhoulys Chacin.

Mike Trout was Verlander's seventh strikeout victim of the night, Albert Pujols flew out to left field and C.J. Cron flew out to center field.

That's nine straight retired by Verlander since Cron broke up his perfect game in the fifth inning. His pitch count is elevated at 99, but there's little doubt that he'll be back out there for the eighth inning.

Top 7th: Tigers 0, Angels 0

Cameron Maybin stepped to the dish with two outs and runners on the corners, but Jhoulys Chacin was able to escape that situation for the second consecutive inning as he got Maybin to ground out to second base to end the inning.

Miguel Cabrera led things off with the Tigers third hit in four at-bats, dropping a single into right field before moving up to second base on a balk.

Victor Martinez popped out before Nick Castellanos drew the intentional walk to put runners on first and second for Justin Upton, who grounded into a fielder's choice to set up Maybin's at-bat.

Bottom 6th: Tigers 0, Angels 0

Justin Verlander has been in control on the mound tonight, but his pitch count is creeping up and his team has yet to give him any run support as he searches for his fifth win of the season.

Verlander put together his fifth 1-2-3 inning of the night and he's thrown 84 pitches through the first six frames.

Carlos Perez flew out to center field, Gregorio Petit became Verlander's seventh strikeout victim and Kole Calhoun grounded out back to the mound.

Top 6th: Tigers 0, Angels 0

Andrew Romine got the Tigers in the hit column with a single through the left side of the infield to end a perfect 17-for-17 start to the game for Jhoulys Chacin.

Ian Kinsler decided to keep the good times going, dropping a single into center field to put runners on the corners for J.D. Martinez with two outs. J.D. Martinez couldn't bring a run home, though, striking out to end the inning.

Cameron Maybin grounded out and James McCann flew out to right field to start the inning.

This game is now just a good, old fashioned pitcher's duel.

Bottom 5th: Tigers 0, Angels 0

C.J. Cron became the first baserunner of the night for either team when he fought off a pitch from Justin Verlander and dropped it into shallow right field for a leadoff single.

No harm, no foul, however as Verlander got out of the inning with ease.

Johnny Giavotella grounded into a fielder's choice, Rafael Ortega flew out to center field and Cliff Pennington grounded out to end the inning.

Verlander will be upset about giving up that hit while the other guy has a perfect game going, but he's still throwing a very good game tonight. The ball Cron hit was in on his hands and was more luck than anything.

Verlander's pitch count is up to 74.

Top 5th: Tigers 0, Angels 0

Your turn, Justin Verlander. Jhoulys Chacin put together another perfect inning and has retired the first 15 Tigers he's faced tonight.

Victor Martinez flew out to left field, Nick Castellanos became the seventh Tiger to strikeout and Justin Upton grounded out to end the inning.

I don't know where this performance has come form, but watching Chacin and Justin Verlander go back and forth is providing some intriguing drama.

Bottom 4th: Tigers 0, Angels 0

That's 24 up, 24 down.

Justin Verlander and Jhoulys Chacin continue to dare the other to blink first as the Tigers and Angels have just cruised through the first for innings in exactly 60 minutes.

To leadoff the inning, Kole Calhoun flew out deep to center field, where Cameron Maybin made a leaping catch at the wall. Mike Trout popped out to second base for the second out of the inning and Albert Pujols struck out swinging.

Verlander has thrown 57 pitches.

Top 4th: Tigers 0, Angels 0

Ian Kinsler grounded out, J.D. Martinez struck out and Miguel Cabrera flew out to end another perfect inning for Jhoulys Chacin.

Chacin has six strikeouts now. Since Martinez flew out his first time at the dish, that leaves just three Tigers (Castellanos, Maybin, Romine) that haven't gone back to the bench with their tails between their legs.

Bottom 3rd: Tigers 0, Angels 0

And the beat goes on...

Each team has gone through its order once now and neither has been able to put a man on base. In fact, the two starting pitchers have combined to strike out nine of the 18 batters to come to the plate.

Cliff Pennington struck out looking, Carlos Perez struck out swinging and Gregorio Petit flew out to center field to end the inning.

Justin Verlander is dialed in and now it's time to see who can get through the second time around the orders unscathed.

Top 3rd: Tigers 0, Angels 0

Jhoulys Chacin is showing no signs of slowing down. Coming into tonight with an ERA near 5.00, Chacin mowed the Tigers down with little resistance the first time through the order.

Nine up, nine down.

Cameron Maybin grounded out to third base, James McCann struck out and Andrew Romine popped out to end the inning.

Chacin has five strikeouts on 38 pitches.

Bottom 2nd: Tigers 0, Angels 0

The hitters on both sides appear to be in for a long night tonight if the first two innings are any kind of indicator.

That's 12 up, 12 down across the board as Justin Verlander and Jhoulys Chacin are settling into what could be a fine pitcher's duel.

C.J. Cron flew out to right field, Johnny Giavotella lined out to second base and Rafael Ortega struck out swinging.

Verlander has two strikeouts on 28 pitches.

Top 2nd: Tigers 0, Angels 0

Jhoulys Chacin is off to a hot start in Anaheim as he's struck out four Tigers in two perfect innings.

Victor Martinez was up 3-0 to leadoff the inning before taking three consecutive strikes, Nick Castellanos lined out to the shortstop and Justin Upton struck out swinging.

Chacin is dialed in early and the Tigers seem to have issues with the strike zone. They'll need to make adjustments the second time around.

Bottom 1st: Tigers 0, Angels 0

Justin Verlander matched his counterpart by setting the Angels down in order in the first inning.

Kole Calhoun flew out to center field, Mike Trout struck out on a 94 mile-per-hour fastball and Albert Pujols grounded out.

Verlander threw 14 pitches in the opening frame.

Top 1st: Tigers 0, Angels 0

Jhoulys Chacin had himself a nice and easy first inning, setting the Tigers down in order to get things started in Anaheim.

Ian Kinsler struck out, J.D. Martinez flew out to deep right-center field and Miguel Cabrera was the second strikeout victim of the inning as the Angels' starter got him swinging at a ball in the dirt.

TIGERS LINEUP

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. J.D. Martinez, RF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. Nick Castellanos, 3B

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Cameron Maybin, CF

8. James McCann, C

9. Andrew Romine, SS

Justin Verlander, P

ANGELS LINEUP

1. Kole Calhoun, RF

2. Mike Trout, CF

3. Albert Pujols, 1B

4. C.J. Cron, DH

5. Johnny Giavotella, 2B

6. Rafael Ortega, LF

7. Cliff Pennington, SS

8. Carlos Perez, C

9. Gregorio Petit, 3B

Jhoulys Chacin, P

TIGERS VS. ANGELS

When: Monday, 9:05 p.m.

Where: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, Calif.

Pitching matchup: RHP Justin Verlander (4-4, 4.02) vs. RHP Jhoulys Chacin (0-1, 4.67)

Local TV: Fox Sports Detroit

National TV: None

Internet streaming: MLB.TV

Local radio: 97.1 FM

Satellite radio: SIRI Internet 849