Detroit's Doug Fister is a sinker-ball pitcher but on Monday, he mowed down the Indians, striking out 13.
Doug Fister has been pitching well for Detroit since being obtained in a trade with SeattleThe Indians thought they would be facing Justin Verlander on Wednesday afternoon, not Monday afternoon.
Doug Fister did a terrific imitation -- even if this Tigers right-hander doesn't possess a high-octane fastball. Fister gave up two runs (one earned) in eight innings and struck out a career-high 13 in the Tigers' 4-2 victory at Progressive Field.
Verlander, a lock for the American League Cy Young Award, awaits in the finale of the three-game series.
Fister allowed four hits and walked one. He threw 72 of 101 pitches for strikes.
"He stayed out of the middle of the plate, for the most part, and he had a good breaking ball," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "His breaking ball was as good as I've seen it."
The strikeouts were the most by a Tiger against the Indians since Mike Kilkenny had 13 on Sept. 17, 1969. Fister's previous best strikeout total in the majors was nine, which he achieved as a member of the Seattle Mariners against Baltimore on May 30. The Tigers acquired him in a six-player trade July 30.
In 1901/3 innings this season, Fister has struck out 125. No wonder, then, that he began receiving texts in the postgame clubhouse along the lines of "13K?" One came from his mother.
"I'm not a strikeout pitcher," he said. "I'm a sinker-baller who tries to get ground balls. It was the same game plan [Monday]."
The free-swinging Indians helped make it possible. They have whiffed 1,079 times in 138 games.
A wiry 6-8, Fister is all arms and legs as he moves toward the plate. His fastball settled at 89 to 91 mph on the scoreboard gun, and it touched 92. But almost every heater featured late life, and he peppered the four corners. The overhand curve offered a significant change of speed and eye level.
"Some pitchers throw strikes; he throws quality strikes," Leyland said. "He throws to the inner half, or away off the plate. He gets guys to mishit the ball."
Fister is 7-13 in 28 starts -- but don't be fooled. He owns a 3.17 ERA and has allowed fewer hits (182) than innings. He has walked just 35.
In seven starts for Detroit, Fister is 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA, including 3-0 with a 0.91 ERA in his past four. Two of the victories have come against Cleveland.
"He's good," Leyland said. "That's why we made the trade for him."
Fister needed to be sharp from the outset because his counterpart, Ubaldo Jimenez, was dealing. Through three innings, they combined to allow one hit and strike out 10.
Jimenez's hiccup occurred in the fourth inning. After Delmon Young hit a one-out single and Miguel Cabrera walked, former Indian Victor Martinez ripped a 2-2 fastball far over the wall in right for a 3-0 lead.
The Indians scored in the fifth, the run unearned because of Fister's throwing error attempting to pick off Jason Donald at first.
The Tigers made it 4-1 in the eighth. The Tribe countered with a Kosuke Fukudome homer in its half.
Leyland turned it over to Jose Valverde in the ninth. The Indians went quietly as Valverde notched his 41st save in 41 opportunities.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/09/fister_blisters_tribe_lineup.html
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