Detroit Tigers 2012 regular season review – Part 18
Detroit Tigers’ Manager Jim Leyland was very happy with what he saw from his men in Game 2 of a three match series against the Seattle Mariners. With momentum on their side, the Tigers had an excellent chance to wrap up an important road series victory but
Seattle had other ideas.
Using their home conditions to great effect, the Mariners edged the mighty Tigers 2-1 in a low scoring thriller to complete a deserving series win.
Mariners’ starter Jason Vargas played a big part in deciding the outcome of the clash as he allowed just one run on five hits in eight sharp innings to grab his fourth win of the season. Striking-out six batters, he used his fastballs and sliders very efficiently.
Relief pitcher Brandon League threw the perfect ninth to help his side hold on to their slim lead. Tigers’ starter Drew Smyly also had a decent time on the mound as he allowed two hits and one run in six innings while striking-out five batters. Relief pitcher
Luke Putkonen took his first loss of the season after he gave up the tie breaking single in the eighth inning.
After Seattle took the early 1-0 lead, Austin Jackson hit a sacrifice fly to centre in the sixth inning to level the score 1-1. John Jose drove in the tie breaking single in the eighth inning, which gave his side a superb series victory.
"I don't think I thrive. I don't think I get more energy from it. It's just the way I am I guess," Jose said of the late-inning heroics. "I've been in a couple of championship situations ... and I just treat it like every other game. I've taught myself to
do it, and I try not to get too high or too low and stay as level as possible."
Tigers started their next series against the Oakland Athletics on a very bright note, securing a comfortable 10-6 win in the opener. Starter Max Scherzer showed the stuff he is capable of as he gave up just two runs on five hits in six plus solid innings
to lay the foundation of an impressive Tigers’ victory.
"It was important," Leyland said. "Hopefully, it will loosen some guys up a little bit. Hopefully, we can get on a little bit of a roll offensively. Those guys who came out today and hit a little extra did well today."
Relief pitcher Octavio Dotel, Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde all pitched with great control and accuracy to keep the A’s on the defensive. Andy Dirks smacked a solo home-run in the first inning to put Tigers on the board. Third baseman Miguel Cabrera,
slugger Prince Fielder, Delmon Young, Alex Avila and Brennan Boesch made valuable contributions to give Tigers a commanding 10-2 lead in the fifth.
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