Detroit Tigers 2012 regular season – MLB Review – Part 11
The Detroit Tigers were hammered in the first two games of their three match series against the Seattle Mariners. Manager Jim Leyland and General Manager Dave Dombrowski expected the Tigers to put up a solid fight in the finale to avoid an embarrassing series
sweep at Comerica Park in front of their home crowd.
However, despite showing excellent fighting skills, the Tigers were unable to cross the finishing line. Starting pitcher Rick Porcello had another poor outing as he gave up seven hits and five runs in just over six innings to take his second loss of the
season. Relief pitchers Phil Coke, Octavio Dotel and Joaquin Benoit combined to toss up two plus shut-out innings but the damage had been done by then.
Mariners’ starter Hector Noesi held his nerves under pressure, conceding four runs on five hits in five solid innings.
Justin Smoak smacked a three run home-run to right centre in the first inning to put Mariners on the board. Catcher Miguel Olivo’s solo home-run helped Seattle extend their lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning.
"It makes you feel better, especially on the road, to get a sweep," Smoak said.
Ryan Raburn and Brennan Boesch made valuable contributions to help the Tigers come back into the contest. Third baseman Miguel Cabrera continued his sensational hitting form as he belted a two run home-run to left centre in the sixth inning to level the
score 4-4.
However, the Mariners were determined to get a rare series sweep at Comerica Park. Left fielder Chone Figgins delivered the tie breaking double to deep right in the seventh and Seattle held on to that one run lead to complete a deserving 3-0 triumph against
their American League rivals.
"It's all about development, don't get me wrong," Figgins said in a post game interview. "But part of that development, the biggest part of it, is that we're coming to the ballpark and trying to find a way to win."
"We're not getting big hits late in the game. We're not making some plays, we're not pitching real good, we're not managing good enough, we're not coaching good enough," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "We're all involved in this together, that's just
the way it is. You just gotta get aggressive and take charge and get after somebody."
Tigers started their next series against the New York Yankees on a losing note as well. Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez and Russell Martin hit back-to-back home-runs to help the Yankees come back from behind to claim a vital 4-3 lead in the fifth inning.
For the Tigers, Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Austin Jackson made valuable contributions but the Yankees held their nerves to prevail 7-6 in a thriller.
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