DETROIT — Anibal Sanchez struck out 17 in eight marvelous innings for Detroit, confounding the Atlanta Braves in a dazzling performance Friday night and leading the Tigers to a 10-0 victory.
Sanchez set a team record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game, and he had a mathematical chance of tying the major league mark of 20 when he was pulled after eight innings and 121 pitches. Sanchez (3-1) took off his hat as he was leaving the field following the top of the eighth, acknowledging a huge ovation at Comerica Park after he struck out Dan Uggla, his final hitter.
Paul Maholm (3-2) allowed eight runs in 3 2/3 innings after giving up only three in his first four starts.
Detroit’s Matt Tuiasosopo homered and drove in a career-high five runs.
Sanchez allowed five hits and one walk.
Comerica is no stranger to high strikeout totals — but not even Justin Verlander or Max Scherzer has had a game like this for the Tigers. Sanchez kept the Braves off balance all night, striking out at least two hitters in every inning except the fourth.
Several of his strikeouts came when he got Atlanta hitters to chase balls down around the dirt. He got Uggla four times and Freddie Freeman and Juan Francisco three times each.
