Detroit Tigers 2012 regular season review – Part 35
The Detroit Tigers lost to the Cincinnati Reds 5-6 in a thrilling encounter in Game 1 of the series. Manager Jim Leyland was expecting his team to regroup and fight back to stay alive in the series and that is exactly what the Tigers did in Game 2 on June
9, 2012.
Showing great determination, mental toughness and fighting spirit, the Tigers outplayed the Reds in finer details of the game to level the series 1-1. The pitching rotation played a big part in deciding the outcome of the clash, restricting the Reds to just
two runs.
2011 Most Valuable Player and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander led from the front as he allowed just six hits and two runs in six solid innings while striking-out nine batters. Using his fastballs and sliders effectively, Verlander created all sorts of problems
for the Reds’ batting line-up.
Relief pitcher Brayan Villarreal grabbed his second win of the season after he tossed up the scoreless seventh. Joaquin Benoit and Joe Valverde also made valuable contributions to help the Tigers hold on to their slim lead.
"Anytime you have Cabrera and Fielder back to back, you feel pretty good. Right-hander or left-hander, it doesn't make any difference," Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland said. "Prince had a huge hit."
"He probably could have gone out there, but it's one of those deals that you hear, he can hit but he turned his ankle. I decided to get him out of the game," Leyland said.
"If you're going to be a good team, you have to win games like this," Verlander said. "They definitely didn't make it easy on me but we came through."
For the Reds, starter Bronson Arroyo pitched with great control and accuracy, conceding just five hits and two runs in seven sharp innings. However, Arroyo was unfortunate to end up on the losing side. Reliever Sean Marshall took his third loss of the season
after he gave up the tie breaking single in the eighth.
Ramon Santiago had an excellent time on the plate as he smacked a solo home-run to right in the second inning to put Tigers on the board. Slugger Prince Fielder, who was signed by the Tigers for a record $214 million nine year contract, also made his presence
felt with a home-run to right in the fourth inning.
Reds also put a solid fight as third baseman Todd Frazier singled to right centre in the fourth inning to level the score 2-2. However, the Tigers were determined to force the series into the decider. First baseman Prince Fielder helped them do that as he
earned an RBI single to centre to break the tie.
The Tigers did a good job as they battled it out with the Reds in this exciting series.
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