How Was The Game? (May 11, 2014)
An outfield only a mother could love.
Twins 4, Tigers 3
Robbie Ray (2 GS, 11 ⅓ IP, 0.79 ERA, 2.38 FIP, 0.4 fWAR) did his part. It looked like the offense did their part. The bullpen sort of did their part, even. The problem child on this Mothers Day was the defense in the outfield corners as Hunter and Davis both made crucial defensive mistakes in the late innings that opened the door to Twins’ runs. Cabrera drove in one with a sac fly, Jackson singled in a run, and Kinsler homered which gave Ray a 3-0 lead with which to work. Ray tossed six scoreless innings, but they were only moderately impressive and gave way to a bullpen that got into trouble in the 7th and 8th and allowed runs due to poor defense. They pushed back a little in the 8th, but could not rally, falling to the Twins in the game and the series. The team will head to Baltimore for three games (and so will I!) with Rick Porcello (6 GS, 38 ⅔ IP, 3.49 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 0.9 fWAR) taking the ball in game one. As a programming note, How Was The Game? will be late over the next three days because I’ll be at the ballpark and not in front of a computer all game!
The Moment: Kinsler homers in the 5th.
How Was The Game? (May 10, 2014)
A love letter to Leyland.
Tigers 9, Twins 3
The Tigers honored Jim Leyland on Saturday, so of course, they played a perfect Jim Leyland game. It opened with a Don Kelly home run robbery and continued with a a power heavy offensive assault that featured home runs from the two biggest bats in the lineup. Max Scherzer (8 GS, 53 IP, 2.04 ERA, 2.78 FIP, 1.5 fWAR) threw a bad pitch to Brian Dozier which ended up in the seats and kept him from going deep into the game, but he was otherwise able to keep the Twins at bay. They pushed across three runs in the second and then Cabrera launched a three run bomb which Martinez would match later on in the game. Al-Al and Joba threw scoreless innings in relief and then it was time for a #PhilCokeInning in which the only runner was erased on a fine 3-6-3 double play. The Tigers will go for the series win on Sunday with Robbie Ray (1 GS, 5.1 IP, 1.69 ERA, 1.77 FIP, 0.2 fWAR) taking the mound for his second career start.
The Moment: Don Kelly robs a home run in the first.
How Was The Game? (May 9, 2014)
A Hughes disappointment.
Twins 2, Tigers 1
Justin Verlander (8 GS, 54 IP, 2.67 ERA, 2.90 FIP, 1.6 fWAR) didn’t have a whole lot of trouble with the Twins on this night, unfortunately, just two runs across seven innings simply didn’t cut it. Verlander gave up a pair in his final inning, but was otherwise pretty comfortable out on the mound on Friday night as he struck out five and walked two. The problem was that the Tigers couldn’t get anything going against Phil Hughes who had them off balance all night. They scattered a few hits and stole a couple of bases, but they didn’t have any serious pressure on the Twins starter through seven innings. In the 9th they pushed across a run on a pair of doubles, but could not find the equalizer. The loss drops them to 20-11 as they prepare for Saturday’s game with Max Scherzer (7 GS, 47 IP, 1.72 ERA, 2.47 FIP, 1.5 fWAR) getting the ball.
The Moment: Castellanos makes an outstanding leaping grab.
How Was The Game? (May 8, 2014)
A small correction.
Astros 6, Tigers 2
After days and days of punishing their opponets, the Tigers finally dropped a game, their first in ten tries. Drew Smyly (4 GS, 27.1 IP, 2.96 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 0.4 fWAR) wasn’t bad, but he struck out two, walked three, and allowed three oruns in 5.1 innings and gave way to the bullpen too early. Reed allowed a run and Miller gave up two more before things were said and done, and the offense couldn’t put together a 7 run day. Castellanos drove in Jackson in the 2nd and Martinez went deep in the 4th, but Keuchel kept the Tigers off balance, sending them to the showers unhappy for the first time in what seemed like forever. The Tigers still took the series 3-1 and enter the weekend set 20-10 on the season. They’ll call on Justin Verlander (7 GS, 47 IP, 2.68 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 1.3 fWAR) to get things going against the Twins on Friday night.
The Moment: VMart stays hot, homering in the 4th.
How Was The Game? (May 7, 2014)
A little bit closer.
Tigers 3, Astros 2
After completely obliterating the Astros on Tuesday, the Tigers played a closer ballgame on Wednesday behind Rick Porcello (6 GS, 38 ⅔ IP, 3.49 ERA, 3.19 FIP, 0.9 fWAR). Cabrera put them on the board with a two run shot in the first inning and Victor added a solo shot for good measure later on. Porcello was quite good again, and cruised through the first six innings, only allowing a pair of runs as he began to tire in the 7th. He struck out five batters and generated 12 swinging strikes in exactly 100 pitches as he guided the Tigers to their 20th win in 29 tries and their 8th straight. They will go for the four game sweep and 9th straight win Thursday afternoon with Drew Smyly (3 GS, 22 IP, 2.45 ERA, 3.20 FIP, 0.5 fWAR) on the bump.
The Moment: Cabrera barely clears the right field wall, and George Springer, in the first.
How Was The Game? (May 6, 2014)
A Ray of hope.
Tigers 11, Astros 4
If Robbie Ray (1 GS, 5 ⅓ IP, 1.69 ERA, 1.80 FIP, 0.3 fWAR) was scared during his first major league start, it didn’t show in the results as he allowed a single run in 5 ⅓ innings while giving up five hits and walk to go along with his five strikeouts. Ray had some trouble in the first and sixth, but ultimately performed well in his MLB debut, grabbing eight swinging strikes in 86 pitches. The bats did their part too, getting runs in many innings courtesy of many players. I had originally tried to identify all of them for you, but it became a very long sentence. Everyone had hits and stuff. The bullpen also managed to not ruin things completely, which is always a plus and gave the Tigers their 7th straight win and their 19th overall. They’ll try to lock up the series on Wednesday behind Rick Porcello (5 GS, 32 IP, 3.66 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 0.7 fWAR).
The Moment: Robbie Ray exits to his first Comerica Park standing ovation.
How Was The Game? (May 5, 2014)
Blue-eyed.
Tigers 2, Astros 0
Max Scherzer (7 GS, 47 IP, 1.72 ERA, 2.52 FIP, 1.5 fWAR) gave the Tigers a superb effort in this one, although, it probably shouldn’t totally count given that it was the Astros whom he was victimizing. He went 8 innings, allowed three hits, no walks, and punched out nine. He only ran into trouble in his final inning, but pitched out of it with relative ease. He couldn’t manage his first career complete game (172 starts and counting), but the Tigers pushed across a run in the 7th on a Rajai Davis single and another on a VMart bomb in the 9th. It was nice, clean game if you enjoy pitchers’ duels. The win, their sixth in a row, lifts the Tigers to 18-9 on the season and further establishes their rotation as one of the best of all time, ending the day with all-time best ERA- and FIP- marks. It’s only May 5th, but it’s still worth noting. Robbie Ray (MLB Debut) will join the party on Tuesday, making his debut, trying to do his best to make us forget Doug Fister.
The Moment: Scherzer, Avila, and Castellanos cap off the 8th with a strike-em-out-throw-em-out.
How Was The Game? (May 4, 2014)
Easy breezy.
Tigers 9, Royals 4
The Royals had to fight a two front war on Sunday, and as many European dictators can attest, that’s almost always a losing battle. They had to deal with Justin Verlander (7 GS, 47 IP, 2.68 ERA, 3.02 FIP, 1.4 fWAR), who was on his game today and did not allow a hit until the 6th inning and the Tigers bats. Verlander walked four and allowed a three spot in the 7th, but that was after the Tigers had already put this game out of reach. The offense scored early and often as every member of the starting lineup had a hit, punctuated by home runs from Castellanos and Avila. Davis also had three hits and scored three runs and Victor Martinez was IBB’d twice for the second time in the series as the Tigers marched to a 9-3 victory, their 5th straight and 10th in their last 13 tries. They’ll head back to Detroit tonight ahead of a four game set with the Astros that starts Monday. Max Scherzer (6 GS, 39 IP, 2.08 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 1.2 fWAR) will be on the hill, so bring your strikeout hats to the park.
The Moment: Castellanos hits a no doubt shot in the 2nd.
How Was The Game? (May 3, 2014)
All Smyls.
Tigers 9, Royals 2
Drew Smyly (3 GS, 22 IP, 2.45 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 0.5 fWAR) probably deserves top billing for his seven innings of shutout baseball in which he allowed just four baserunners, but also receiving votes was Nick Castellanos who drove in the first three runs, one on a sac fly and two on an RBI double. Cabrera did his part with some clutch baserunning (!) and Kinsler did his part to help the Royals with an impressive set of two TOOTBLANs. Hunter, Jackson, and Davis each made a fine play in the outfield and the bullpen managed to maintain the lead across the final six outs while the bats unloaded in the 9th to secure the win. The Tigers will go for the sweep on Sunday and their fifth straight win behind Justin Verlander (6 GS, 40 IP, 2.48 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 1.1 fWAR).
The Moment: Torii Hunter makes a diving catch that no one thought he would make.
How Was The Game? (May 2, 2014)
Superb.
Tigers 8, Royals 2
It was another banner night for Rick Porcello (5 GS, 32 IP, 3.66 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 0.7 fWAR), who scattered four hits and two runs across seven excellent innings in which he struck out six Kansas City Royals. He allowed a run on a sac fly in the first and on a solo shot in the fourth, but set down the final 12 men he faced and was never in trouble. The bats came to his aid with two in the third, three in the fourth, and three in the seventh to make this a comfortable one for Rick and the bullpen. Martinez had a three hit day and Avila swatted a two run homer to right center in the effort. The win lifts the Tigers to 15-9 and will give them a chance to take the series Saturday behind Drew Smyly (2 GS, 15 IP, 3.60 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 0.2 fWAR).
The Moment: Avila delivers a two run blast in the fourth.
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