Detroit Tigers 2012 postseason review – MLB Featured – Part 5
After beating the New York Yankees comprehensively in the best of seven game American League Championship Series, the Detroit Tigers were the favourites to clinch the World Series title against the San Francisco Giants.
Tigers made it to the World Series in 2006 as well, only to lose to the inspired St. Louis Cardinals. Jim Leyland and company were determined to turn the tables this time around but the San Francisco Giants had other ideas.
The well rested Tigers took on the well tested Giants in Game 1 of the World Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California on October 24. Tigers’ hard throwing ace Justin Verlander, who gave superb performances against the Oakland Athletics and the Yankees,
was unable to live up to the expectations at the biggest stage.
Verlander was hit hard in his four innings as he gave up six hits and five runs while striking-out four batters. Verlander’s hammering put the Tigers under immense pressure and there was no way back from a 6-0 deficit in the sixth inning.
"I just didn't execute tonight," Verlander said in a post game interview. "It was kind of a battle from the get-go. They took advantage of that and swung the bat pretty well, especially Pablo and (Marco) Scutaro. A couple of good bounces their way, bad for
us."
"I'm one that's been around long enough to know that a lot of things happen in this game. This was a big-hyped game with Justin, probably a lot of pressure on him," Leyland said.
Relief pitchers Al Alburquerque, Jose Valverde, Joaquin Benoit and Rick Porcello all struggled to execute the game plan as the Tigers took an embarrassing loss in the series opener.
Giants’ third baseman Pablo Sandoval played a key role in deciding the outcome of the clash as he smacked three home-runs against the Tigers’ ace.
"We played our last game only two days ago," Pablo Sandoval said. "We're still hot. We just came here and played our game."
His counterpart from Detroit, Miguel Cabrera singled to centre in the sixth inning to put Tigers on the board. Jhonny Peralta homered to centre in the bottom of the ninth but his effort was not enough to stop the Giants from earning a crucial 1-0 series
lead.
Tigers’ relied heavily on their pitching rotation all through the postseason. Manager wanted the rotation to learn the lessons to turn the tables in Game 2.
Starter Doug Fister produced a masterful performance in Game 2 at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Allowing just four hits and one run in six sharp innings, he kept the Tigers in the hunt but Detroit’s offence was unable to score any runs. The Giants held on
to their two run lead comfortably to take a vital 2-0 series lead.
Giants’ starter Madison Bumgarner had one of the career best outings as he gave up just two hits in seven innings while striking-out eight batters. Relief pitcher Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo also made valuable contributions to help the Giants hold off
the Tigers.
Prince Fielder, Delmon Young, Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson and Omar Infante combined to get two hits in 14 at-bats.
Continued in Part 6
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