Detroit Tigers’ Jim Leyland admits loss, positive of comeback at Comerica Park – MLB Update
Detroit Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland did not blame his team for the 3-7 loss against Texas Rangers in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series and instead praised opposition’s bull-pen for their immaculate pitching under immense pressure.
The Rangers edged past 3-2 against Detroit in Game 1 and that win was influenced by the bull-pen as well. In the opener, the Tigers were forced to leave nine runners on base. Here, the Tigers stranded 13 on base to add to their growing misery.
Prior to this game, Detroit lost star slugger Magglio Ordonez to a re-fracture in the right ankle and ALDS champion Delmon Young was diagnosed with an oblique injury. With both players out for at least this season, the Tigers will have to adopt an aggressive approach when the series shifts to Comerica Park in Detroit from Tuesday, October 11.
Leyland, however, was not concerned about the injuries and ensured that the team will not bring up this issue as an excuse for a loss in the ALCS. He admitted the team’s failure to convert scoring chances and said, "We didn't quite get it done. We haven't been able to come up with any big hits. That's really hard. We've had some opportunities, but up to this point, we just haven't been able to do that."
First Baseman and star slugger Miguel Cabrera could not agree more with his manager and added that the opposition’s bull-pen made their pitches count when the Rangers needed them to. Cabrera managed to connect only once in his five at-bats to underscore the strength of Texas’ pitching staff.
In total, with runners at scoring position, Detroit went 1-for-12 which is not an impressive statistic, especially with the ballpark being a batters’ paradise.
Victor Martinez had been impressive for the Tigers during the regular season, but has failed miserably in the first two games of the ALCS. In total, the cleanup hitter is 0-for-7 and is now keen on making a mark in the remaining games. Talking to reporters after the loss, Martinez articulated that both games were close encounters and could have gone either way.
Leyland insisted that the team has not lost confidence and a comeback is on the cards, especially with the next few games in Detroit. If the team does manage to produce scoring chances again, the line-up will surely fire.
Tags: