Delmon Young's 3 Run Double is the Difference in a 7-4 Tigers Win

The Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox tonight 7-4.

After an Andy Dirks walk in the 1st inning, Miguel Cabrera came up and hit a 2-run home run; it's his 33rd of the season and the Tigers had an early 2-0 lead.

After the White Sox made it a 2-1 game in the 2nd inning, the Tigers responded in the bottom of the inning with a triple by Austin Jackson, then a double by Andy Dirks to score Jackson and the Tigers took a 3-1 lead.

The White Sox made it a 3-2 game after the top of the 3rd inning, and Omar Infante made 2 bad defensive plays. He forgot Paul Konerko is slow and that he had plenty of time to make a good throw, then forgot how many outs were left. Nice job, Omar!

Infante wasn't the only player struggling on defense tonight, though. Miguel Cabrera likely cost the Tigers a run in the 4th inning to make it a 3-3 game. Cabrera has been dealing with an ankle sprain, and was struggling tonight.

Jhonny Peralta responded in the 4th inning with a solo home run to put the Tigers back in the lead; it's his 11th of the season.

Doug Fister was not sharp today, making his first start after a groin injury forced him to miss his last scheduled start. He went 5 innings giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits, walking 4 and striking out 2 batters.

Drew Smyly came in for relief, but put runners on 1st and 3rd while only getting 1 out before getting pulled. Octavio Dotel got the final 2 outs, but thanks to Smyly, a run scored in the process and it was a 4-4 game. Dotel came back out and pitched a scoreless 7th inning; he ended up getting the win.

The Tigers came back in the 7th inning after a walk by Andy Dirks, single by Miguel Cabrera, then Prince Fielder was hit-by-the-pitch to load the bases with no outs for Delmon Young who hit a double to score all 3 runners and the Tigers took a 7-4 lead.

Joaquin Benoit came in and pitched a scoreless 8th inning and Jose Valverde pitched a scoreless 9th inning to earn his 27th save of the season and got the Tigers the win.

The Tigers continue their series with the White Sox tommorrow as Max Scherzer (14-6 4.13 ERA) pitches against Francisco Liriano (5-10 5.09 ERA).

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Previewing: Detroit Tigers vs Chicago White Sox

I've read a lot of people currently split on the Tigers. They were just swept on the road by the Kansas City Royals, but Detroit trails the Chicago White Sox in the Central division by just 3 games.

How important is this series?

I think it's very important to take atleast 2 of the 3 games. Losing 2 of 3 would put the Tigers 4 games behind the White Sox with a month left in the season, while they could make up those 4 games, it would be tough this late in the season.

What are the pitching matchups this weekend and who do I think has the advantage?

Friday - Doug Fister (7-8 3.67 ERA) vs Jake Peavy (9-9 3.09 ERA). Chicago hasn't faced Doug Fister with the Tigers yet, and the Tigers who have struggled in the past vs Peavy, have done well against him this season.

Advantage: Toss up. This could be the difference between a possible sweep for Detroit, or getting 2 of 3 at the most, in my opinion.

Saturday - Max Scherzer (14-6 4.13 ERA) vs Francisco Liriano (5-10 5.09 ERA, 2-0 4.26 ERA with the White Sox). Scherzer since April has pitched very well, and Liriano has done alright since joining the White Sox. Scherzer in 11 starts career vs Chicago has a 2.85 ERA, however, Liriano has struggled in his career against the Tigers. In 21 games (15 starts) he has a 5.69 ERA.

Advantage: Tigers

Sunday - Justin Verlander (12-7 2.80 ERA) vs Chris Sale (15-5 2.81 ERA). Verlander is the 2011 MVP and Cy Young winner, and Chris Sale is having a terrific season in his first season as a starting pitcher. Something to keep an eye on is in Sale's last start, his fastball velocity was the 2nd lowest average of the season for him, and he didn't pitch very well in that start. There are concerns he may have a tired arm. For me, that is the difference here, what Sale are people going to see?

Advantage: Tigers

Something else to keep on for this series is coming into tonight's game, but Detroit and Chicago have had their offenses in a bit of a slump.

I think the Tigers will take 2 of 3, and have a chance to sweep. Both teams are using their best pitchers though, so it'll be an exciting series.


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Anibal Sanchez Pitches Well in a Tigers 1-0 Loss

The Detroit Tigers lost to the Kansas City Royals tonight 1-0.

The Tigers struggled to get much going and were down 1-0 heading to the top of the 7th inning, but Miguel Cabrera led the inning off with a double, then advanced to 3rd base on a fly ball from Prince Fielder. Delmon Young was next and was hit-by-the-pitch, then Jhonny Peralta came up with runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out, but struck out, and Jeff Baker (of course) failed to get a 2 out hit, and it remained a 1-0 game.

Anibal Sanchez pitched pretty well tonight. He threw 7 innings, giving up 1 run on 7 hits and had 1 strikeout.

Octavio Dotel came in for relief and pitched a scoreless 8th inning.

Andy Dirks led the 9th inning off with a single, and Miguel Cabrera hit a line drive towards left-center field, but a diving catch most likely saved a run. Prince Fielder came up next and hit a single. Delmon Young was up next, and struck out on a hanging slider. Atleast it wasn't a slider away in the dirt this time I suppose? Jhonny Peralta was the last chance for the Tigers, but struck out to end the game.

The Tigers finish their series with the Royals tommorrow as Rick Porcello (9-9 4.60 ERA) takes on Jeremy Guthrie (5-12 5.71 ERA).

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Tigers Lose 9-8 in a Controversial Finish to the 9th Inning

The Detroit Tigers lost to the Kansas City Royals tonight 9-8.

Austin Jackson led the game off with a single, and scored on a double from Andy Dirks. Delmon Young came up and hit a 2-run home run and the Tigers took an early 3-0 lead; it's his 15th of the season.

Justin Verlander, however, with a combination of a few bad pitches, a few bad defensive plays, and no luck whatsoever couldn't hold the lead, and gave up 7 runs on 10 hits in the first 2 innings.

The Tigers offense responded in the 3rd inning though with singles by Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera, then Prince Fielder came up and hit a 2-run double. A Delmon Young ground out advanced Fielder to 3rd base, then Alex Avila hit a single to score Fielder and it was a 7-6 game.

Justin Verlander allowed a run to score in the 6th inning and that finished his night. He pitched 5 and 2/3 innings giving up 8 runs on 12 hits, walking 3 (1 intentional) and striking out 6 batters.

Darin Downs came in for relief and got the last out of the 6th inning.

Detroit came back in the 7th inning after a single by Austin Jackson who advanced to 2nd base on a stolen base, then advanced to 3rd base after a wild pitch, and would score on a single from Miguel Cabrera to cut the lead to 8-7.

Brayan Villarreal came in and pitched a scoreless 7th inning.

Jhonny Peralta tied the game 8-8 in the 8th inning with a solo home run; it's his 10th of the season.

Villarreal came back out for the 8th inning and got the first 2 outs of the inning, then Phil Coke came in and on cue gave up a run that was charged to Villarreal. Hey Jim Leyland, just because Phil Coke is left handed doesn't mean he needs to face left-handed hitting, considering he's not very good.

The Tigers didn't quit, though. Austin Jackson led off the 9th inning with a walk, advanced to 2nd base on a ground out by Andy Dirks, then advanced to 3rd base on a wild pitch, but with 1 out, Miguel Cabrera struck out. Prince Fielder was intentionally walked to set up runners on 1st and 3rd and 2 outs for Delmon Young who hit a ball on the 1st pitch that after replay, was ruled a foul ball, by inches. Young went on to hit a fly ball to end the game.

The Tigers continue their series with the Royals tommorrow as Anibal Sanchez (7-10 4.38 ERA) pitches against Bruce Chen (9-10 5.41 ERA).

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Alex Avila Hits a Walkoff Single to Get the Tigers a 3-2 Extra Innings Win

The Detroit Tigers swept the Toronto Blue Jays today with a 3-2 extra innings win.

The Blue Jays took an early 2-0 lead, and the Tigers offense struggled to do much of anything for most the game. They didn't even get a runner to 2nd base until the 8th inning. However, in the 8th, Alex Avila drew a walk, Austin Jackson hit a single, then Brennan Boesch hit a pinch hit single to drive in Avila and Jackson advanced to 3rd base on the hit. With Prince Fielder batting, Jackson scored on a wild pitch to make it a 2-2 game.

Justin Verlander was great today. He pitched 9 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 12 batters.

Octavio Dotel came in and pitched a scoreless 10th inning (with assistance from an incredible defensive play by Austin Jackson).

Phil Coke came in aand got the first out of the 11th inning, then Joaquin Benoit got the last 2 outs of the inning; he went on to recieve the win.

Jhonny Peralta led the bottom of the 11th inning off with a single, then Delmon Young reached on a fielder's choice; Quintin Berry came in for Young to pinch run and stole 2nd base. Jeff Baker was up next and drew a walk, then Alex Avila hit a walkoff single to give the Tigers the win!

The Tigers open up a 3 game home series with the Angels tommorrow as Rick Porcello (9-8 4.67 ERA) pitches against Zack Greinke (10-5 4.01 ERA).

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Anibal Sanchez Pitches Well in a 3-2 Tigers Win

The Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays tonight 3-2.

The Tigers scored first in the 4th inning after a triple by Omar Infante, then Infante scored on a wild pitch to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers came back in the 5th inning with a single by Delmon Young who advanced to 2nd base on a hit-and-run play, then scored on a single from Jeff Baker to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

After the Blue Jays made it a 2-1 game, the Tigers responded in the 6th inning after Austin Jackson reached base on a fielding error, then Omar Infante had a sacrifice bunt to get Jackson to 2nd base. Miguel Cabrera was up next and was intentionally walked, then Prince Fielder came up and hit a single to score Jackson and the Tigers took a 3-1 lead.

Anibal Sanchez gave up a run to the Blue Jays in the 7th inning and his day was done. He went 6 and 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits, walking 2 and striking out 6 batters; he earned his 7th win of the season.

Brayan Villarreal came in for relief and got the final out of the 7th inning.

Joaquin Benoit came in and pitched a scoreless 8th inning, then Jose Valverde pitched a scoreless 9th inning to earn his 25th save of the season which got the Tigers the win.

It was also Valverde's 100th save as a Tiger.

The Tigers finish their series with Toronto tommorrow as Justin Verlander (12-7 2.53 ERA) takes on J.A. Happ (9-10 4.88 ERA).

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Prince Fielder Bobblehead Night!

Last night was Prince Fielder bobble head night. The bobblehead was given to the first 10,000 fans. It was a night in which the Tigers won 5-3 and was led by a great pitching performance from Max Scherzer.

Prince Fielder ended up going 1-2 with a double and 2 walks. His bobblehead turned out pretty well in my opinion (and much better than Austin Jackson's bobblehead)

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