Detroit Tigers 2012 regular season review – Part 34
The Detroit Tigers started their three match series against the Cincinnati Reds on an extremely disappointing note. The offence was unable to live up to the expectations as the Tigers lost 5-6 in a thrilling series opener on June 8, 2012.
Reds, on the other hand, showed excellent fight abilities, showing nerves of steel under pressure to prevail in front of their home crowd at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Second baseman Brandon Phillips provided the Reds with an excellent start as he reached on an infield single to the pitcher to put his side on the board. First baseman Joey Votto gave Reds complete control of the situation with a three run home-run to centre
in the third.
However, the Tigers were not prepared to give up without a fight. Brennan Boesch smacked a solo home-run to right in the fourth inning to spark a stunning comeback. Third baseman Miguel Cabrera also made his presence felt with an RBI single to left and Boesch
earned an RBI single to centre in the seventh to level the score 4-4.
As Delmon Young’s homered to left centre in the eighth, it seemed the Tigers will snatch a memorable come back from behind victory but the Reds had other ideas.
Designated hitter Todd Frazier added a double to deep left in the eighth to force the game into the extra inning. Wilson Valdez stole the show with a tie breaking single in the tenth.
"It was something I decided," Valdez said. "I feel I can put down a perfect bunt."
"It touched every part of the wall," Young said. "I took some balls (there) in batting practice, and no ball did what that ball did. It hugged the wall the whole time and gave Cairo a chance to get to third. It's tough and cost us a game."
"He was looking at me and I was like, 'Here we go,'" Cairo said. "I was expecting it. I know he likes to do it. It was a perfect bunt."
Tigers’ starting pitcher Rick Porcello had another poor outing as he gave up nine hits and four runs in just five innings. Relief pitchers Luis Marte, Duane Below, Jose Ortega and Phil Coke combined to concede two runs in four innings of relief, allowing
the Reds come back from behind to claim a superb victory.
Coke took his second loss of the season after he allowed one run and one hit as a closer. His counterpart from the Reds, Sam LeCrure showed the stuff he is capable of as he tossed up two perfect innings to play a key role in deciding the outcome of the clash.
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