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Tigers enduring wins drought by starting pitchers
- Updated: September 16, 2016
CLEVELAND — The last stint for C.J. Nitkowski as a starting pitcher came in 2000, when he made the Tigers’ rotation for then-manager Phil Garner. He made his first appearance at Comerica Park on April 14 that year, capitalized on run support and pitched seven innings in a 10-5 win over the Rays. He lost his next four starts, all on the road, before outpitching Roger Clemens and the Yankees in a 9-7 win on May 12.
It wasn’t just Nitkowski with the drought, though. No Tigers starter won a game between Nitkowski’s wins, a 22-game stretch. No Tigers rotation had come close to such a streak until now.
When the Twins roughed up Mike Pelfrey on Thursday, it marked the 18th consecutive game without a victory by a Tigers starter since Justin Verlander beat the Angels on Aug. 26. Not surprisingly, it’s the longest current drought by a Major League rotation. More surprising is that the Tigers have played .500 ball in that stretch, going 9-9.
Tigers starting pitchers are 0-8 with a …
