Tigers deny Colon’s bid at history

DETROIT — Jordan Zimmermann denied Bartolo Colon’s bid at baseball history, striking out 11 batters in eight innings as the Detroit Tigers beat the Texas Rangers 3-1 on Friday night.

Colon was trying to become the winningest Latin-American pitcher in major league history. He remains tied with Dennis Martinez with 245 career victories.

He pitched well, allowing three runs — including homers by James McCann and JaCoby Jones — in an eight-inning complete game, but Zimmermann (4-0) was better. The Tigers right-hander allowed one run and four hits and struck out 10 or more for the first time since his no-hitter for Washington against Florida on Sept. 28, 2014.

Joe Jimenez pitched the ninth for his third save, helping the Tigers end a three-game losing streak by winning for just the third time in 17 games.

At 45 years, 43 days old, Colon (5-6) became the oldest pitcher to throw a complete game since Jamie Moyer (47 years, 199 days) on June 5, 2010.

METS 5, RAYS 1: Jose Bautista’s grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted New York to a win over Tampa Bay. Jacob deGrom was stellar again for the Mets, allowing one run and four hits while striking out eight and issuing one walk over eight innings. NATIONALS 3, MARLINS 2: Pinch-hitter Mark Reynolds led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a home run that lifted Washington past Miami. BREWERS 5, BRAVES 4: Jesus Aguilar hit his 20th homer, rookie Freddy Peralta pitched six sharp innings and Milwaukee held off Atlanta. METS’ MEJIA REMOVED FROM BAN LIST: New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia has been granted conditional reinstatement from his lifetime drug suspension and could return for the 2019 season. Mejia became the first player suspended for life under Major League Baseball’s drug program in February 2016 following his third positive test for a banned steroid. A right-hander who turns 29 in October, Mejia was the Mets’ closer in 2014, then was suspended for 80 games in April 2015 following a positive test for Stanozolol, a drug popular among bodybuilders. Mejia returned July 12, appeared in seven games for New York, then was banned for 162 games in July after a positive test for Stanozolol and Boldenone. The third suspension was for a positive test for Boldenone.