Elliot Johnson helps Tampa Bay Rays defeat Detroit Tigers 3-2 – MLB Update
Elliot Johnson played a game winning hit in the tenth to take the Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, August 24 to bring his club back into the 4-game series.
The Rays were 2-0 down due to a 5-2 and 2-1 loss in the first two games of the series, but this hit was a sign of relief for the team. Elliot landed to the plate with all bases loaded and received two strikes before hitting a grounder into fielder’s choice
to third base.
"We win the game because a guy running at first, Sean, does the right thing," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "We win because of him and his effort. Sean gets a great lead at first, a great jump and makes the play. That doesn't happen every night."
Tigers’ third baseman Brandon Inge selected to throw to second basemen Ramon Santiago, who responded little late and Sean Rodriguez safely slide to steal the base. Tigers also missed couple of chances in the earlier part of the game.
Their manager Jim Leyland accepted their faults and said, "I thought there was an out at first or probably at third," Leyland added. "We didn't execute a couple of chances and it cost us. We could not come up with the big hit. We didn't do much offensively."
Evan Longoria added his 22nd home-run of the season while designated hitter Johnny Damon scored an RBI single on his two hits.
The Rays’ starter Wade Davis was brilliant with his nine innings two run game. He struck-out six batters and allowed only three walks. However, despite showing some excellent entertainment to his fans, he failed to get his ninth win of the season. Instead,
his fellow Joel Peralta got his third win tossing only one scoreless inning.
Tigers’ starting pitcher Max Scherzer was used only for five innings, because he had given two runs over four hits with two walks. Daniel Schlereth, Ryan Perry and David Pauley worked strong innings. Duane Below lost his second game of the season allowing
a run in just over one inning.
Both teams with the same kind of form in the 2011 regular season are looking to show their opponents down. However, the next game will be one of the interesting contests the fans in Florida have seen in this season.
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