Detroit Tigers 2012 regular season review – Part 52
After beating the Rays comprehensively 5-2 in Game 1 one of a four match series, the Detroit Tigers were looking to continue to good work in Game 2 on June 29. With momentum on their side, Jim Leyland and company had an excellent chance to take an impassable
2-0 series lead but the Rays had other ideas.
Showing great determination, fighting spirits and composure, the Rays outplayed their American League rivals in finer details of the game to level up the series 1-1. Rays’ starting pitcher David Price played a key role in deciding the outcome of the clash
as he struck out seven Tigers’ batters. Overall, he allowed just five hits and two runs in seven solid innings to give his side a much needed victory.
Price’s counterpart from Detroit, the 2011 American League Most Valuable Player Justin Verlander was unable to execute his game plan to perfection as he gave up six hits and four runs in a low scoring game. Relief pitcher Octavio Dotel had a great time on
the mound as he tossed up two scoreless innings but the Rays held their nerves to prevail in a thriller.
"Any time a pitcher's going to tell me that the back is bothering him, I'm definitely going to take him out of the game," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
"It just tightened up on me a little bit," Price added. "It's something we need to be careful with."
"Not very good. You know the old saying, solo homers don't hurt you does not apply tonight, not when you give up three of them," Verlander said. "Just fell behind some guys and put them in fastball counts and they were able to take advantage of it."
Luck Scott grounded out to first in the first inning to put Rays on the board. Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist smacked back to back home runs in the third and fourth to stretch the lead to 3-0. Jennings hit his second home run of the game in the fifth inning
to deny the Tigers any chance of coming back into the contest.
Outfielder Delmon Young belted a solo home run to left centre in the fifth to help the Tigers avoid an embarrassing shutout defeat.
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