DETROIT -- Tigers top prospect Michael Fulmer came into his fifth career start Saturday having never gone deeper than the fifth inning. He had not struck out more than six batters in a game. He had typically only relied on his fastball and his slider.
All of that changed when the 23-year-old fanned 11 Rays over seven innings while featuring a changeup to lead the Tigers to a 5-4 win.
Fulmer became the fourth Tigers pitcher since 1913 to strike out 11 or more batters in one of his first five Major League appearances, joining Jack Morris (July 31, 1977, at Texas), Denny McLain (Sept.