12-10, 2nd place, 1 game behind KC.
(this image may look familiar)
After laying an egg against one of the weaker teams in baseball right now, the Tigers have responded nicely with two comfortable wins against the hot Braves. Yesterday’s win was brought to you courtesy of the middle infield, as both Infante and Peralta hit twho rhun homers, and Cabrera was Cabrera again. Porcello was okay, but given the shellacking he took last time out, last night’s performance was just fine. Let’s remember that he’s our #5 guy.
The Tigers go for the sweep tonight against Braves lefty Mike Minor. Remember all those horrible stats I brought up on Friday? The Tigers proceeded to pound Maholm for 8 runs in 3 2/3 on 10 hits and 3 walks. Minor had a breakout year in 2012, and 2013 is pointing up. Though his 2012 record was only 11-10, he was much better than that and his 4.12 ERA. He posted a 1.15 WHIP and 7.27 K/9 against 2.91 BB/9. In 2013 he’s posting a .92 WHIP with 21 Ks and only 3 walks in 25 innings. He’s holding hitters to a .220 BAA, but that’s .050 against lefties (1 hit and 8 Ks in 21 batters) and .268 v righties. Other than Prince, who is crushing lefties to the tune of .400/.500/.760, we’ll have the platoon righties.
A few notes about Sanchez’s gem from Friday:
– He faced 29 batters. He walked 1, gave up 5 hits, and had 6 non Ks. Of those 12 non-K batters, 5 went to 2 strike counts.
– Of the 5 hits he gave, up, 3 went for extra bases.
– 15 of the 17Ks were swinging.
– He struck out the side in the 2nd and 8th, and at least 2 in every other inning except for one. The 4th was the only inning where he struck out less than 2 batters.
Tonight’s Series Sweeping Lineup:
1. Jackson, CF
2. Hunter, RF
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Peralta, SS
7. Tuiasosopo, LF
8. Pena, C
9. Infante, 2B
Also in Sanchez’ outing: 0 outfield putouts.
Is something wrong with Avila ….. other than his batting? He has only played one game in this series with Atlanta.
Probably the left-handed pitcher Minor drove this. Dirks is out too.
This was never an issue with AA before ….. he played whether a lefty or righty was pitching.
1 for 13 vs LHP this year. And it’s not like he is killing RHP. I’d platoon him too until he figures it out.
Hopefully Mumbles will keep platooning him with a very capable Pena with two Lefties inn this series..
They must think a lot more of Pena than they did Laird.
Fister must be going after the new Tiger game strikeout record.
Going back and including the entire 2012 season…As days and months go by AA is becoming less capable of playing every day. Maybe the Tigers are just realizing this
AJAX……welcome back!……Excellent!
and the Tiger Defense rears its ugly head!
as this game goes along the Braves have the look like they don’t want to get swept and the Tigers look like two out of three is good enough!!! just sayin!
Victor……Excellent situational hitting!
I know we have had this discussion about a strikeout is just another out so who cares an out is an out……..but as good as the Braves are I am not sure I could take THIS many strikeouts every game.
Omar is hurting his old club!
Excellante Infante!
I like the extra run with “Homer” Benoit and “One Pitch” Valverde coming up.
Cabby just answered your concerns!
Miggy!,,,,,,,you da Man!
wonder if all those people who sat all night in the rain are glad they stayed……..I guess SO!
Even better.
it now appears the Braves would just like to get out of Detroit ……..now!
Quite a two out rally!
Don Kelly…2 for his last 2….whats the Tiger record????
And he earns himself a start tomorrow night as Dirks continues to recuperate. And what about Santiago?
nice weekend Boys!!!
One of the young men who is a friend of my sons (they are all mid 30’s guys) is a Braves fan and was all over the Facebook thingie about their great start. Not a peep from him all weekend. Great fun with the Team this weekend, got to see all the games on the large TV. I had 1 other thing to do this weekend, and it was a sad and yet beautiful thing. One of my co -workers, a “double Brother” in other words, a fomer Marine and Firefighter, is home after losing a 3 year battle with a form of cancer considered a duty related illness. We welcomed him home by some 200 of us (there are only 280 on the “job”) lining the street to his home. He arrived with a motorcycle escort in the back of an Engine from his Station, and was overwhelmed. He has weeks to live, and I am going to go to his place every day and hug him and tell him he is my hero. Google “Save John Knighten” on facebook for more info. Baseball is a great game and for me this weekend, an escape.
thanks for sharing..jim
Great story Jim. Thanks for sharing.