The Tigers beat the Nationals today 7-4.  It didn’t start out great as the Tigers again failed to score runners in scoring position with two outs early in the game.

The Nationals led 1-0 in the bottom of the 2nd.  The Tigers loaded the bases with nobody out but only managed to score one run.  Worth grounded to short but the Nationals got Guillen at the plate.  Rayburn walked forcing in Inge but Damon grounded out and Magglio flew out.

Cabbie led off the 3rd with a double.  Boesch grounded to second moving Cabbie to third.  Gullien ground to first, the Nationals tried to cut down Cabrera at the plate but the throw wasn’t in time and Gullien was safe at first.  Inge popped out, Laird singled and Worth grounded to third.  The 3rd ended with the Tigers trailing 3-2.

The Tigers tied the score at 4 with two in the 4th.

In the fifth, the Tigers took the lead for good.  After a hit and a walk, Rayburn dusted a three run homer putting the Tigers ahead 7-4.

Scherzer pitched 6 innings, giving up 4 ER and striking out nine.

Aside from a hit batter and a walk in the ninth by Valverde, the Tigers bullpen was perfect.

Laird was 3-4 and Coke and Zumaya were aces.

Verlander takes the mound tomorrow against Hernandez.