David Price pitched a really nice game yesterday in leading his Tigers to an 8-3  victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Dave went seven, gave up eight hits, one earned, with one walk and seven K’s. He gave up a home run to Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar, but pitched a beauty overall. Al Albuquerque and Jeff Ferrell finished it off for the Tigers. though Ferrell ran into some trouble in the ninth giving up two runs. But the Tigers bats were on despite losing Miggy Cabrera the night before with a grade 3 calf strain that will sideline the Tigers’ slugger, and the best hitter in baseball, for six weeks. Ian Kinsler and Yoenis Cespedes each had three hits, and J.D. Martinez hit his 22nd home run and knocked his 54th, 55th Ribeyes. The Tigers belted out 13 hits. The Tigers still have the bats. It’s the pitching that has to come through for them to be a serious contender when Miggy gets back to the lineup maybe around early to the second week in August.

David threw 114 pitches, 79 for strikes with 35 balls, over a 2:1 strike to walk ratio, always the key number and a good number. As I always say, Dave is just a strike thrower. His fastball hit 96 on his 112th pitch to Jose Reyes. He was using the hard stuff a lot, bringing it 94-95 and 96 at times, and mixing in his cutter which comes in around 90 and breaks into right handers and away from left handers, his change up which was good and he threw some pretty good curve balls. He’s just a complete pitcher.

David moved to 8-2 on the season with a 2.54 ERA. He has walked only 22 and struck out 107. His WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) is 1.13, good for fourth in the American League. He’s been a rock  for the Tigers pitching staff. The Tigers have won two in a row over the high octane offense of the Jays and go for the sweep today. They moved to 41-39 on the season and trail the AL Central leading KC Royals by five games. The Royals are at 45-33. The Royals lost to the Minnesota Twins yesterday, 5-3, at home. The Twins are in second in the AL Central at 43-48, 3.5 back of the Royals.

Justin Verlander (0-1, 5.09) goes today for the Tigers against Marco Estrada of the Jays. Estrada is 5-4 with a 3.58 ERA. Verlander really needs to get it together for the Tigers to make a run. He’s back healthy and he needs to have David’s back in the rotation. If he can get it going, that would be a a huge boost to the Tigers starters. If you have Price and Verlander dealing, the rest of the rotation will follow. Tigers need this today. Still think the bats will be fine. Alex Avila took Miggy’s spot at first and did a really nice job. He made a superb catch on a pop fly in the first base seats and he has a pretty good bat. Manager Brad Ausmus said we wouldn’t see Alex all the time at first in place of Miggy, but I don’t know why not. He’s a great defensive player and can hit. I’m not sure what Ausmus is talking about. He looked pretty darn good to me. After today, the Tigers hit the road to Seattle for three beginning tomorrow night, then go to the Twins for a huge four game set leading up to the All Star break. Need to win today and have a solid road trip to stay right in the mix.

David pitches Thursday at Minnesota against Mike Pelphrey (5-5, 3.94, 32 walks, 45 K’s, 5 homers, 1.49 WHIP). David has given up nine homers in 117 innings. That’s fine. He just throws strikes and sometimes the batter is expecting it and catches one right down the pipe and on the barrel. Dave’s having a tremendous season.

Pedro went o for 3 yesterday, but the Pirates won 1-0 over the Cleveland Indians. Pedro grounded out to short and the pitcher respectively, and K’d once. He was part of two double plays at first base. Not his best day at the plate, but the Bucs evened the series with the Indians. The Bucs moved to 46-34, and are six games back of the Cards, which beat the Padres, 2-1, yesterday. The Cards are 52-28 in the NL Central. The Bucs throw stud Gerrit Cole today. He’s 11-3 with a 2.20 ERA with 25 walks, 108 K’s and a 1.14 WHIP. He’ll face Danny Salazar of the Indians, who is 7-3, 3.80 ERA 24 walks,. 108 K’s and a 1.16 WHIP. Bucs need to win this one and win the series. Salazar is a right handed pitcher so Pedro should start. Pedro is hitting .240 with 11 homers and 35 prime ribs.

Sonny suffered food poisoning from Salmonella last week. I’ve never had that, but have heard it’s pretty bad. But he is expected to start for the A’s Tuesday night. I feel very fortunate as I am visiting my older daughter in NYC this week beginning tomorrow and we have tickets to the A’s- Yankees game that Tuesday night. My younger daughter will be there as well visiting with me, so it’s going to be a blast. Will give a full report when I return. I’m not going to wear my A’s hat because I don’t want to get in a tussle with a Yankees fan while I’m with my daughters, but I am going to wear my Vandy hat and may try to get Sonny’s attention if I can. Our tickets are on the third base side, right behind the A’s dugout, so I may give Sonny a shout out if possible without embarrassing my daughters. I’m really pumped. Full report when I return. Pumped for NYC and pumped to see Sonny. The A’s have won two of three from the Mariners and defeated the nearly unbeatable King Felix Hernandez yesterday, 2-0. It was beautiful. The team got great work from starter Kendall Graveman, who gave up five hits and o runs in seven innings, and Drew Pomeranz and Tyler Clippard finished it off. Clippard earned his 15th save of the season. The starting pitching for the A’s has been good, it’s just been the bullpen that’s been an issue. But the pen is starting to show signs of improvement and that would be a huge boost to this team. The A’s are now 38-46 and 10.5 back of the Astros in the AL West.

They go for the series sweep today. Chris Bassitt (0-0, 2.87 ERA) goes for the A’s vs. Mike Montgomery 3-2, 1.62 ERA) for the M’s. The A’s have their work cut out today.

Sonny now 9-3 with a 2.09 ERA with 26 walks and 97 K’s and an awesome 0.99 WHIP. He’s given up five home runs in 107.2 innings. He’ll face Nathan Eovaldi of the Yankees. Eovaldi is 8-2 with a 4.52 ERA with 25 walks and 63 K’s and a 1.54 WHIP, so while the record is good, he looks hittable. He’s a righty.

The A’s are in New York for three beginning Tuesday and then head to Cleveland Friday for a weekend series before the All-Star break.

The Orioles lost to the White Sox yesterday, 3-2. Ryan Flaherty was 1 for 2 with a run scored. Ryan had a single. He’s hitting .248 and is the regular second baseman and playing outstanding defense. The O’s are 42-39 and two games back of the Yankees, which have beaten the Rays the last two days on walk off home runs. It’s been pretty dramatic.

Another note. The Tigers called up Drew Verhagen from the 2012 squad this week. Drew could see some action very soon, so that’s exciting.

Will have more when I get back from the City that never sleeps. The way my daughters have me scheduled out, I may be a part of that crowd. But I can’t wait. I’ll catch up when I get home.