Tigers 8, Mariners 4 (7/3/08)
Only once in Silva’s five-year career as a Major League starter had he had so much as twice as many flyouts as groundouts. On Thursday, the only two outs he induced on the ground were on a double play. Ten of his 15 outs came in the air.
Yet the story of the Tigers’ 8-4 win at Seattle wasn’t a simple tale of pounding the ball all over the park. Against a sinkerball pitcher that had generally been comfortable against Detroit’s hitters until this season, the Tigers beat Silva for the third time this season by beating him with ground balls and line drives. They essentially used his strength against him.