Detroit Tigers 2012 regular season review – Part 37
After completing a series victory against the Cincinnati Reds, the Detroit Tigers were looking to extend their winning streak to improve their win-loss record. However, despite having the momentum on their side, the Tigers were unable to find winning ways
in Game 1 of their next three match series against the Chicago Cubs.
Tigers’ starting pitcher Max Scherzer was unable to execute his game plan to perfection and the Cubs held their nerves to claim a thrilling win the opener on June 12, 2012. Overall, Scherzer gave up five hits and three runs in six innings while striking-out
eight batters.
Credit should also be given to the Cubs’ batting line-up as the made the most of available opportunities. Tigers’ relief pitcher Phil Coke was also failed to control the flow of runs as he gave up two hits and one run in two innings of relief, taking his
third loss of the season.
Cubs’ starter Paul Maholm produced a match winning performance as he allowed six hits and two runs in just six innings, striking-out seven Tigers’ batters. Closer Carlos Marmol won for the first time in 2012 and closer Shawn Camp made his first save of the
season after he pitched the perfect ninth.
"It's not based on results," president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said of Chicago, who were ranked 27th in the Majors with .304 on base percentage. "We're trying to get a new voice with a new message. We have a certain hitting philosophy
we believe in, and we have a lot of growth that awaits us as an organization to try to get there."
"I knew for a fact the guy was out at first base, because there's no way that his body came off the bag with the ball not in his glove," Coke said. "There's no way. He's pushing off of the bag to get to the ball."
Cubs’ Darwin Barney had a great time on the plate as he grounded out to shortstop in the second inning to put his side on the board. The second baseman added a double to deep left in the sixth inning to stretch Cubs’ lead to 3-0.
Ramon Santiago helped them stay in the contest as he earned an RBI single to right centre in the seventh inning, adding spice to the proceedings. Austin Jackson also made his presence felt with a single to left in the seventh to level the score 3-3.
Cubs, however, showed nerves of steel under pressure. Shortstop Starlin Castro took the Cubs home as he reached first-base safely on a throwing error by Tigers’ shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Cubs’ closer Camp pitched the shut-out ninth to give his side a memorable
win.
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