Detroit Tigers 2012 regular season – MLB Review – Part 13
After losing to the New York Yankees 6-7 in a nail biting encounter in Game 1 of the series, the Detroit Tigers needed to regroup and fight back and that is exactly what they did in Game 2 at Yankee Stadium to stay alive in the series.
Tigers’ starting pitcher Drew Smyly had a wonderful time on the mound as he gave up just two hits and one run in six solid innings. Striking-out seven batters, he kept Yankees on the defensive for most part of the game.
Relief pitchers Phil Coke and Octavio Dotel also pitched with great control and accuracy, helping the Tigers take a commanding 7-2 lead going into the ninth inning. Closer Jose Valverde was hit hard as he gave up six three runs in the bottom of the ninth
but the Tigers managed to escape, holding on for a 7-5 win.
Yankees’ starter Freddy Garcia paid the ultimate price for his errors on the mound as he allowed five hits and six runs in just over an innings to take his second straight loss of the season. Rest of the bullpen combined to pitch seven plus scoreless innings
but the Yankees were unable to recover from the damage that had been done earlier.
"He was mixing and throwing strikes on all his pitches," said Andruw Jones of Smyly, who struck-out looking in his first at-bat. "The first time I saw him, he fell behind and threw me three straight curveballs for a strike. Never thought in my mind he was
going to throw me curveballs straight like that."
"Whether we're going to start hitting right now and tomorrow and forever on, I don't know about that," Leyland said. "But we'll hit and today was a real good day for us."
"My velocity is down," Garcia said. "I don't know what's going to happen next.”
Andy Dirks smacked a three run home-run right in the first inning to put Tigers on the board. Brennan Boesch and third baseman Miguel Cabrera drove in vital runs to stretch the lead to 7-2 in the sixth inning. Yankees fought back brilliantly in the closing
stages of the game but the night belonged to the Tigers who held on to their slim lead to level the series 1-1.
Yankees staged an emphatic come back in the finale as they outclassed the Tigers in almost all departments of the game. Tiger’s third straight series loss damaged their win-loss record to 11-11.
Yankees’ starter C.C. Sabathia played a key role in deciding the outcome of the clash as he allowed just four hits and two runs in eight solid innings. Striking-out eight batters, he made quick work of the Tigers’ batting line-up.
Tags: