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NEW YORK -- Exactly one year ago, Michael Fulmer was making his seventh start for Double-A Binghamton with a pitching-rich organization that had sent Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard to the New York Mets. On Sunday, Fulmer was in New York for the first time as a major leaguer and discussing another successful start in his brief career.
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Fulmer continued his impressive run when he allowed two hits in six scoreless innings and won his fifth straight decision as the Detroit Tigers defeated the New York Yankees, 4-1.
"It was cool because a lot of those guys I was teammates with in the minor leagues. It was awesome to see guys like that succeed and live their dream," Fulmer said. "I knew if I kept at it and pitched the way I could, then my time would come whether it was with the Mets or this Tigers team.
"I love where I'm at now. I love this team. I'm grateful for the opportunity the Tigers have presented to me."
Fulmer extended his scoreless streak to 28 1/3 innings. It is the second-longest scoreless streak for a Detroit rookie only behind John Hiller's 1967 record (28 2/3 innings).
While he didn't match the Tigers rookie record, he achieved some other notable things in his first start in New York since being obtained for Yoenis Cespedes. He started 2015 as New York's 14th best prospect but after being the Eastern League pitcher of the year, Fulmer began this year as Detroit's top prospect.
"I was happy," Fulmer said. "It was nice to be wanted. So far I'm trying to convince the Tigers that they didn't make the wrong decision."
According to the Elias Sports Bureau he and Jake Arrieta are the only pitchers to allow three hits or less in four straight starts while pitching at least six scoreless innings. Fulmer also is the first major league to pitch at least six shutout innings and allow two hits or less in three consecutive starts during the same season since Washington's Gio Gonzalez in 2012.
The right-hander also has allowed one earned run in his last 34 1/3 innings, giving him an earned run average of 0.26 in his last five starts and lowering his overall earned run average from 6.52 to 2.52.
"He's throwing the ball great," Detroit second baseman Ian Kinsler said. "He's commanding all his pitches for strikes. He's commanding all his pitches out of the zone when he wants to go out of the zone with them."
He only allowed a leadoff single to Aaron Hicks and a bloop double to Austin Romine that started the fifth. He also allowed four other baserunners by issuing three walks and hitting Chase Headley with a pitch in the fourth.
"He's got good stuff," Headley said. "He was throwing strikes, mixing it up and we just couldn't get the barrel on the ball."
The fifth was Fulmer's most challenging inning. Fulmer threw 29 pitches, including 10 to Brett Gardner, who walked but with the bases loaded, but he only needed two pitches to retire Carlos Beltran on a fly ball to right-center field.
"He pitched well," Beltran said. "He has great stuff, good fastball life and his slider was good."
After Fulmer's latest successful outing ended at 91 pitches and just when he said he was starting to get better command, three relievers finished Detroit's sixth win in eight games.
Shane Greene pitched a scoreless seventh, Justin Wilson gave up a two-out RBI single to Headley in the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez pitched a hitless ninth for his 19th save.
Fulmer exited with a 2-0 lead thanks to a Nick Castellanos sacrifice fly in the fourth and an RBI groundout by Victor Martinez in the fifth. Detroit pushed its lead to 4-0 in the seventh on Ian Kinsler's two-run home run off Anthony Swarzak.
Besides Fulmer's achievements, the Tigers also saw Miguel Cabrera reach a milestone in his first at-bat. Cabrera doubled to deep center field off Michael Pineda (3-7) and became the seventh active player to reach 2,400 hits and the fifth-youngest (33 years, 55 days) according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Pineda turned in a decent outing, allowing two runs and six hits in six innings. He reached a high pitch count and was unable to complete seven innings after doing so for the first time since July 4 last Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels.
NOTES: Cabrera became the fifth youngest player to reach 2,400 hits, joining Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Hank Aaron and Robin Yount. "As long as Miggy plays you're going to keep asking questions," Kinsler said. "If there was another league above MLB he could play in it. He's a special talent and whenever you ask questions about another milestone, it's no surprise." ... The Yankees reportedly will sign 1B Ike Davis to a major league contract after he exercised an opt-out clause with his contract for the Texas Rangers. Davis could join the team Tuesday in Colorado. ... New York LHP Chasen Shreve (shoulder) threw 14 pitches in his first rehab appearance for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. ... The Yankees held their 70th annual Old Timers Day celebration with several members of the 1996 World Series championship team in attendance. Also present was 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, who reached the second deck in batting practice. The ceremonies ended with a moment of silence for Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra, who passed away last September.
