Detroit Tigers 2012 regular season – MLB Review Part 2
After securing comprehensive wins in the first two games of the series against the Boston Red Sox, the Detroit Tigers had the momentum and home conditions working in their favour. Manager Jim Leyland lauded he wanted the Tigers to complete a deserving series
sweep against the Red Sox.
Game 3 was played on an extremely competitive note as both teams fought for the supremacy. It was the Tigers, who held their nerves to prevail in a high scoring thriller 13-12.
Third baseman Miguel Cabrera had an excellent time on the plate as he singled to right in the first inning to put Tigers on the board. Jhonny Peralta doubled to deep centre and Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly to centre in the second to give Tigers a vital 5-2
lead.
Red Sox fought back superbly. David Ortiz, Mike Aviles and Jacoby Ellsbury combined to score five runs as the Red Sox came back from behind to claim a 7-5 lead in the third inning. However, the match was not over yet. Outfielder Brennan Boesch singled to
right in the fourth and Cabrera earned an RBI groundout double to level the score 7-7.
The Red Sox were also determined to clinch their first win of the series. Adrian Gonzalez homered to right centre in the sixth inning to put his side 10-7 ahead in the ninth. For the Tigers, Cabrera smacked a three run home-run to left in the bottom of the
ninth to force the game into the extra inning.
Delmon Young hit a sacrifice fly to centre and Alex Avila homered to right in the 11th as the Tigers clinched a thrilling win in the finale in front of their home crowd.
"You don't see those kinds of games at this level very often," Avila said. "There's really no rhyme or reason or explanation for it."
"Our guys played a h**l of a game," Bobby Valentine said. "We had a walk-off loss on Opening Day, then got beat 10-0 and were down 4-0 in the first inning today -- but we fought back and took them 11 innings."
"We've got to get this straight: It's not about Prince and me," Cabrera said. "We've got 25 guys, it's about the Detroit Tigers, it's about everybody here. We feel comfortable about everybody here so let's play ball and play hard."
Tigers’ starting pitcher Max Scherzer had a forgettable time on the mound as he gave up just eight hits and seven runs in just over two innings while striking out just three batters. Relief pitcher Phil Coke, Octavio Dotel, Joaquin Benoit and Duane Below
also struggled to stop the flow of runs.
For the Red Sox, starter Clay Buchholz allowed eight hits and seven runs in four innings. Relief pitcher Mark Melancon took the loss after conceding three runs in the 12th.
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