How Was The Game? (September 7, 2014)
A stopper.
Tigers 6, Giants 1
After two tough losses, the Tigers needed to stop the bleeding ahead of the Royals series and Kyle Lobstein (3 GS, 22.2 IP, 2.78 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 0.3 fWAR) gave them a nice little boost. He gave the Tigers 5.2 innings of one run baseball on four hits and two walks, and while he pitched through a little late traffic, he gave the Tigers enough to win. The bats jumped on Hudson in the third inning and then tacked on a few more to increase the cushion and give the bullpen lots of breathing room. The win sets up a showdown Monday through Wednesday with the Royals, giving the Tigers a chance to take the lead with a sweep. Justin Verlander (28 GS, 178 IP, 4.80 ERA, 3.90 ERA, 2.6 fWAR) goes first.
The Moment: Cabrera hits a no doubt shot out to left center.
How Was The Game? (September 6, 2014)
Good for the last 8.5 innings?
Giants 5, Tigers 4
This one got off on a bad foot, but then David Price (30 GS, 219 IP, 3.33 ERA, 2.85 FIP, 5.2 fWAR) remembered he was David Price and the offense started slugging home runs and made a game out of it. After a four run first he settled in nicely and went 8.2 innings while allowing just five total runs courtesy of 11 strikeouts and a walk. The bats rallied back early with a two run homer from Cabrera, a solo shot from VMart, and then another solo blast from Miggy. It looked rough early but by the time we got to the 9th inning it was a one run ballgame. Carrera (pinch hitting) grounded out, Avila struck out, and Davis grounded out to end the game with the Tigers coming up short. Kyle Lobstein (2 GS, 17 IP, 3.18 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 0.2 fWAR) gets the Sunday night call.
The Moment: Cabrera strikes back with a two run homer in the first and a solo shot in the 8th.
How Was The Game? (September 5, 2014)
Miserable.
Giants 8, Tigers 2
So basically this was bad. Rick Porcello (27 GS, 183 IP, 3.30 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 3.1 fWAR) got off to a rocky start with a little rough defense mixed in with some hard contact and a comebacker off his ankle. He pitched only three innings (six runs on ten hits and a walk), but he would probably have gone another inning or two if not for a massive outpouring from the skies that kept the game in delay for nearly three hours. When the game came back, the Tigers and Giants both added two additional runs as they rolled through relievers and set things up for Saturday’s showdown between David Price (29 GS, 210.1 IP, 3.25 ERA, 2.87 FIP, 5.0 fWAR) and Madison Bumgarner.
The Moment: The stadium wasn’t destroyed during the storm?
How Was The Game? (September 4, 2014)
Impressively bookended.
Tigers 11, Indians 4
The Tigers got this one going early with four runs in the first inning after sending 10 men to the plate and then they sort of forgot to do anything for many innings. Max Scherzer (29 GS, 193.2 IP, 3.25 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 5.1 fWAR) kept the Indians off the board for much of the game but struggled with his command at times and eventually wound up surrendering three runs across six long innings in which he allowed four hits and three walks. The bullpen let one back in and this game was tied into extras. In the 11th inning Davis and Kinsler reached and then the Indians IBB’d Carrera….yes…no I’m not making that up….really. Anyway, Suarez made them pay and then VMart launched one to make it 9-4. They added two more and cruised through the bottom half. They took three of four and 11 of their last 18 despite the tough schedule. They’ll go home and give the ball to Rick Porcello (26 GS, 180 IP, 3.10 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 3.0 fWAR).
The Moment: The other team issued an intentional walk to Carrera. That’s not a typo.
How Was The Game? (September 3, 2014)
At least it was quick?
Indians 7, Tigers 0
This didn’t exactly go well, but at least it went fast. Justin Verlander (28 GS, 178 IP, 4.80 ERA, 3.90 FIP, 2.6 fWAR) meandered his way through the first few innings and looked okay for a moment before surrendering to fatigue and winding up with an ugly 6 runs in 6.2 innings. There were nine hits and a walk to go with his seven strikeouts but the only thing you can really say was that it wasn’t a disaster. The bats ran into a buzzsaw, and while I wouldn’t classify them as quality at bats, it was a pretty tall order to match Salazar during such a sharp night. Meh, they can still take three or four behind Max Scherzer (28 GS. 187.2 IP, 3.26 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 4.8 fWAR) Thursday night.
The Moment: Kinsler makes a sparkling dive to his right to take away a hit.
How Was The Game? (September 2, 2014)
Just long enough.
Tigers 4, Indians 2
Tuesday was all about strikeouts and leaving men on base. Kyle Lobstein (2 GS, 17 IP, 3.18 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 0.2 fWAR) pitched into the 6th after allowing a two run homer in the first and threw up 10 strikeouts along the way. Carrasco let the Tigers grab some hits but he also stranded a whole bunch of them via the strikeout. It was a close game but there were tons of chances for both teams and sadly, Avila might be out for a while with a concussion. If we’re chronicling managerial mistakes he let Holaday hit in a bad spot despite having a third catcher, he used Carrera to pinch hit for Suarez, then he didn’t run for Hunter and used Moya to run for Cabrera. Fortunately, Martinez the lesser came to the plate with a chance in the 9th and did his thing, sending a ball out to center to give the Tigers a two run lead. Nathan got the 9th and only allowed one runner before securing the win. Justin Verlander (27 GS, 171.1 IP, 4.68 ERA, 3.92 ERA, 2.5 fWAR) goes Wednesday.
The Moment: JD Martinez hits a no doubt go-ahead bomb in the 9th.
How Was The Game? (September 1, 2014)
Powerful.
Tigers 12, Indians 1
The Indians had a late night and were greeted by a powerful Tigers lineup that made it easy on David Price (29 GS, 210.1 IP, 3.25 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 5.0 fWAR) who gave up an early run and settled in for seven solid innings. The bats were the story, however, as the Tigers chased Corey Kluber with five early runs that came on three big home runs from the middle of the order. But the Tigers weren’t done, adding seven additional runs in the late innings thanks to another Cabrera bomb, some hit parading, and then an assault from the Tigers recent minor league callups, Perez, Moya, and Collins. The big win gets the series off on the right foot and sets them up for Tuesday behind Kyle Lobstein (1 GS, 11.2 IP, 3.09 ERA, 3.90 FIP, 0.1 fWAR).
The Moment: Perez, Moya, and Collins put on a show as the Seawol…Tigers run away on the Tribe.
How Was The Game? (August 31, 2014)
A defense that was offensive.
White Sox 6, Tigers 2
Rick Porcello (26 GS, 180 IP, 3.10 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 3.0 fWAR) was dealt a rough hand on Sunday as his defense played like an even worse version of themselves. They committed four errors, an error that wasn’t called an error, and made at least three poor defensive plays that don’t qualify as errors. So Porcello went 6.2 innings and gave up six runs, but three were earned and probably only two qualified as his fault. He walked one and punched out seven along the way, doing his best to hold the game together for the bats. They grabbed a pair in the 6th but couldn’t do more and coasted to a series split courtesy of embarrassing defense. It’ll be David Price (28 GS, 203.1 IP, 3.32 ERA, 2.91 FIP, 4.7 fWAR) trying to bounce back against the Indians after his worst start last time out.
The Moment: Davis and Kinsler hit back to back double to wake the offense in the 6th.
How Was The Game? (August 30, 2014 – Game 2)
Tigers baseball.
Tigers 8, White Sox 4
Baseball is pretty predictable most of the time. Usually guys like Max Scherzer allow six runs and guys like Kyle Ryan (1 GS, 6 IP, 0.00 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 0.1 fWAR) allow zero. Hey wait a minute, that’s not right at all. Ryan wasn’t flashing brilliant stuff, but he kept the White Sox off balance for six innings and allowed no runs while his team jumped out to a 5-0 lead courtesy of a pair in the 3rd and three in the fourth. The 8th inning went all disaster movie on us, as the Tigers used three pitchers and gave up four runs to make it painfully close. They grabbed three runs of their own in the top of the 9th, though, thanks to an all around effort and gave Nathan plenty of cushion. It’s Rick Porcello (25 GS, 173.1 IP, 3.06 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 2.7 fWAR) for the series on Sunday.
The Moment: Kinsler punches one through the infield to add runs in the 4th.
How Was The Game? (August 30, 2014 – Game 1)
A high scoring duel?
White Sox 6, Tigers 3
This one started in a pretty amazing way with the Tigers scoring three runs before they made two outs courtesy of home runs from Kinsler and Martinez. When you can start 3-0 against Chris Sale, you’re happy, but he remembered he was Sale and Max Scherzer (28 GS, 187.2 IP, 3.26 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 4.9 fWAR) fell victim to his own bad inning and HR problems. Max’s final line was 6.2 innings, 9 hits, 6 runs, 0 walks, and 11 strikeouts, so you have some sense of how tough he was to hit during the parts of the game in which he forgot he was Scherzer. Between Scherzer and Sale there were all kinds of strikeouts and all kinds of strikes. It might have been one of the higher scoring pitching duels you’ll see as both starters controlled the story, even if they both stepped in it during one inning. Three hours off and then Kyle Ryan (MLB Debut) makes his debut.
The Moment: Kinsler and VMart get to Sale for HR in the first.
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