Detroit Tigers 2012 regular season review – Part 59
A series leveling win in Game 4 of a four match series against the Minnesota Twins provided the Detroit Tigers with the kind of momentum they were looking for. Jim Leyland and his men did not look back from there onwards.
In their next series against the Kansas City Royals, the Tigers displayed some top quality baseball skills, dominating their American League Central Division rivals in almost all aspects of the game to complete a series sweep.
In Game 1 on July 6, Tigers’ starting rotation led from the front. Starter Drew Smyly pitched with great control and accuracy as he allowed just two runs in six sharp innings while striking out 10 batters. It will not be wrong to say that he laid the foundations
of an impressive Tigers’ victory in front of their home crowd at Comerica Park.
Relief pitchers Brayan Villarreal, Phil Coke, Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde combined to pitch three scoreless innings as the Tigers held on to their slim lead to take a vital 1-0 series lead.
Royals’ starter Jonathan Sanchez took his fifth loss of the season after he allowed six his and four runs in just over five innings.
"Tonight was exceptional, because he's not an overpowering pitcher," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Smyly. "But he's got a good feel for pitching, and I like him a lot. I think he has a chance to be an outstanding pitcher in two or three years, and some
people don't think it will take that long."
"The results are still not good enough," Sanchez said.
"You just can't see much here in the first four innings," Yost said. "That's not an excuse -- we have a pitcher out there who can take advantage of it as well, but it is really tough for hitters."
Quintin Berry broke the deadlock in the third inning as he tripled to deep centre to put Tigers on the board. Royals fought back well to level score 2-2 but Tigers’ outfielder Delmon Young smacked a two run home run in the sixth inning to help his side complete
a deserving victory.
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