Detroit Tigers surpass Baltimore Orioles 5-3 as Prince Fielder shines - MLB Update
Two home-runs by the first baseman Prince Fielder help the Detroit Tigers win 5-3 against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan on August 17, 2012 in the first game of the three match series.
The Tigers started slowly before they accelerated late in the innings. After the one run that they scored in the first inning, they went through scoreless innings until the end of the fifth.
In the meantime, Orioles scored three runs and therefore were ahead of the Tigers by two runs. At this stage of the game, some spectacular performances from the players were needed by the Tigers, because blowing the two runs lead of the Orioles was an uphill
task, which demanded a flurry of home-runs.
Since the latter half of the game had begun meant the Tigers will find it difficult to produce runs under pressure.
Making sure the Tigers dominate the proceedings, Prince Fielder stepped out of the ranks and struck two mammoth home-runs, which brought four runs as a result. This effectively turned the game into the Tigers’ favour.
Detroit manager Jim Leyland enjoys the big hits from Fielder in the match. Clean hits that he struck were unstoppable for the fielders.
"We got the big blows from the big guys," Jim Leyland said. "There's no defense for those."
Meanwhile, Justin Verlander started for Detroit. He completed six innings and gave up three runs while striking-out six. He did not earn the win as the relief pitchers that finished scoreless innings under pressure played the bigger role in ensuring the
triumph for the side.
"I was definitely out of sync," Verlander said. "I wasn't quite right. I was able to keep us in the game, and the big boys did what they do. They can put an entire team on their back."
The relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit was scoreless in one inning as he kept the Orioles from experiencing a late-innings upsurge and making an effective counter attack as a result.
Jose Valverde who did the closing job for the Tigers was even more impressive. He restrained his nerves and did not let the batters take advantage of the pressure cooker situation.
There are two games remaining in the series. The Tigers will be looking to keep their momentum intact as they play the upcoming matches.
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