Detroit Tigers 2012 regular season review – Part 51
After taking an embarrassing series loss against the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers’ Manager Jim Leyland was expecting his team to regroup and fight back in their next series against the Tampa Bay Rays and that is exactly what the Tigers did in Game 1 on
June 28
Showing great determination, mental toughness and fighting spirits, the Tigers dominated their arch rivals in almost all departments of the game. The starting rotation, in particular, played a big part in deciding the outcome of the clash.
Starter Max Scherzer led from the front as he allowed just four hits and two runs in six solid innings. Striking out seven batters, he created all sorts of problems for the Rays’ batting lineup.
Relief pitchers Phi Coke, Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde also pitched with great control and accuracy as they combined to pitch three shutout innings to help the Tigers hold on to their slim lead.
"As difficult as the time is for me, you know for me it's about going out there and pitching well and helping the team," Scherzer said. "We want to win. Any time I can go out there and give our team a chance to win, that's what I'm all about."
"When he gets the right arm slot going, and is not flopping around off the mound ... he's pretty consistent," Leyland said.
"It was a good game. ... We pitched very well," Leyland added. "We got some big hits. Scherzer was good. The bullpen was good."
Rays’ starter James Shields did not have a great time on the mound as he gave up 14 hits and four runs in seven plus innings to take his fifth loss of the season.
Delmon Young provided the Tigers with an excellent start as he singled to left in the third inning to put his side on the board. Catcher Alex Avila doubled to left and Quintin Berry reached first base safely on a throwing error to extend Tigers’ lead to
4-1 in the fourth inning. Third baseman Miguel Cabrera smacked a solo home run to right in the ninth to end the game on an aggressive note for the Tigers.
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