Tigers 7, Astros 3. (14) [Boxscore]
Summary: Offensive barrage in 14th gives Cats a win.
Pitching: As games go, this one wasn't bad at all. Porcello threw well, going 7 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits (2 homers) while whiffing 7. Pity he didn't get the win, because he threw well enough for one.
The bullpen was absolutely stellar as they threw the remaining 7, allowing just 2 walks and a hit, punching out 11 Astros. That would be awesome for a starting pitcher, let alone a bullpen as shaky as the Tigers has been. Here's a brief rundown on each pitcher, in order of appearance.
- Ortega. Innings: 2. K's: 3. Wow, this kid continues to impress in his callup.
- Benoit. Innings: 2. K's: 3. Walks 1. Solid!
- Downs. Innings: 2/3. Punchouts: 1.
- Putkonen. Innings: 2.1. Whiffs: 4. Walks: 1. Anyone think we got a good deal, Coke for Putkonen?
Impressive. Good thing they had him, they really didn't have anyone else available. The donkelly probably would have had to pitch if things had gone on much longer.
Kudos to you boys for proving your worth!
Offense: Them kitties didn't have much success or punch against the Astro's pitching staff. While they banged out 15 hits and 6 walks, (regulation game: 12 hits, 4 walks), they simply couldn't deliver the runners home, as they went 7-16 with RISP, their usual bugaboo this season. They also whiffed an astounding 18 times!
Out of those 15 hits, only 4 extra-base hits, all doubles... and 2 of them in the 14th. The Astros staff did very well.
The 14th was a different matter: 3 hits (2 doubles), 2 walks, 4 runs.
Jackson had the most hits despite whiffing 4 times, going 3-7 with a double (6). Miggy went 2-5 with 2 walks, both singles, and he also collected his 1,000th hit as a Tiger. Yes, already. This guy is something special!
The donkelly went 2-3 with a double (2), and he singled in the winning run with the bases loaded in the 14th. He's turning out to be a valuable bench guy.
Peralta was 2-6 with a hat trick in K's. Infante 1-6 with a two-bagger (3).
Matt Tuiasosopo deserves honorable mention for his double (2) in the 14th that drove in 2 insurance runs.
The person with the worse game? Avila: 0-3, with 3 K's and a walk. Wonder what's wrong with the guy? He's been in a funk for a long, long, long time. (If you count last year as a funk that is; I do.) Either something ain't right with him, or scouts have discovered some glaring weakness that opposing teams are exploiting to handcuff him. Either way, it needs to be fixed.
The Tigers were lucky to come away with this one.
Next game: The Furry Ones @ Astros, 8:10 Eastern. TV: FS-D. Radio: 97.1 The Ticket.