Detroit Tigers bring down Toronto Blue Jays to square series
The Detroit Tigers came into the game against the Toronto Blue Jays, 2 – 1 down in the series. It was up to the team to make their visit to the Rogers Centre count as a productive one with at least a split series. Much to the approval of the team’s manager, Jim Leyland, the match was won emphatically due to some great displays of hitting and a special exhibition of pitching by Rick Porcello
The 21-year old pitcher has an average season thus far but his performance last night would be recorded in the annals as a testament of his talents. The right-handed ball thrower managed an amazing 101 pitches in just 7 innings. The fast learning ball club player struck out just 4 and allowed 2 hits and a run in his time on the mound.
The Jays, however, were not on the right side of the result as their game ended harshly with minimal hits and just 4 runs on the score board. Management brought on rookie, Marc Rzepczynski, to the fixture for pitching duties. Going into the game with just 7 games played, the 24-year old didn’t fare well last night. He struck out 8 but conceded 5 hits, 4 runs and 5 walks in his 5.2 innings of play.
The Tigers began the hitting and the runs came swirling in from the very start of the match. The Jays were put through some harsh play as Miguel Cabrera, leading the league with RBIs (Runs Batted Ins), sprung into action as he smashed a double to the deep right and got Wily Rhymes through to the dugout for the team’s first run. With the game split wide open from the start, the blue birds were not able to make their efforts count when they went up against the young and talented pitcher, Rick Porcello.
While the Toronto players were looking for hits, the Tigers kept on scoring more and more runs. The second for the team came in the top 4th when Johnny Peralta cleared the last base for the score off Casper Wells single to the right. Following that, Wells got into the spotlight again in the top 6th when he spread the field with a double to the deep centre. That hit got Cabrera and Peralta through the last base with ease, bringing up 4 runs for the Detroit ball club. The Jays then responded late in the bottom 6th as John McDonald smashed the night’s first homer, 350-feet to the left. The home team finally got their first for the night and jump started their fight again. Much to the displeasure of the fans, that was not going to go on without any resistance from the visitors.
The Tigers got the 5th of the game in the top 7th when Ryan Raburn displayed his prowess with a 339-feet homer to the left. That wasn’t the only hit that came as Brandon Inge got on the score sheet with his own 373-feet homer to the left side of the park. That smash got two runs on the table as Cabrera ran from base to score. As Detroit was 7 – 1 up, they pressed on and that resulted in another blockbuster move. Raburn was fired up in the night and in the top 8th he made the spectators watch in amazement as he banged a 3 run, 409-feet homer to the left. Austin Jackson and Rhymes were on the bases when Raburn connected and as they ran back to the dugout, they put the team on 10 runs.
The Jays ended their misery with a positive note, as Adam Lind connected for a 412-feet homer to the right. Much to the appreciation of the fans, the hit got the team 3 runs as McDonald and Fred Lewis ran through the diamond for the hit. The Jays’ 4 runs were not enough to cut the Tigers’ onslaught and when the game closed, the series was squared.
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