Shoemaker grew up a Tigers fan in Trenton, Mich., roughly 20 miles from Comerica Park, and attended nearby Eastern Michigan University. In his first game back from Triple-A, he retired 20 of the 22 batters he faced, striking out five, and turned in his best start of the season.
Shoemaker, who has allowed just one earned run in 19 2/3 career innings against the Tigers, got a chance for the win when Albert Pujols came through with a two-out RBI single in the sixth inning.