You know what, this game wasn’t bad! The Tigers kept coming back over and over again to tie things up and show they really had the desire to keep in it, and quite frankly, given how this team has played in previous seasons, just seeing a desire to win the game was nice.
The Tigers really showed some life tonight and kept things interesting throughout, including climbing home run numbers from Miguel Cabrera, and some unexpected pop from Harold Castro.
Let’s see how things played out.
Wily Peralta was on the mound for the Tigers to start things off, and kicked off the first with a single to Harrison, who then advanced to third on a pickoff error from Peralta. Olson then brought Harrison home on a sac fly, giving the A’s the first score of the night. The Tigers bats were fairly silent in the bottom of the inning, with only a Grossman walk to show, and no runs scored.
Peralta settled in for the second and had a nice 1-2-3 inning, and then in the Tigers half, Candelario doubled to lead things off. A Haase flyout advanced Candy to third, then a Harold Castro singled to bring Candelario home, tying the game 1-1. A double play ended the innings, but things were tied up, and not for the last time in the game.
The third rolled around and again Peralta set the A’s down in order. As the Tigers came to the plate, they too went down 1-2-3 for a speedy inning overall.
Peralta’s smooth innings ended in the fourth, with a solo home run from Marte to lead off the inning and put the A’s back in the lead. Olson drew a walk, then a long Lowrie double brought Olson home, putting the A’s up 3-1. Canha reached on a single, but the A’s would have to settle for two. Peralta’s night was done, with a final line of 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR on 71 pitches.
In the bottom of the fourth, Grossman drew a leadoff walk, and then Miguel Cabrera launched number 502 into the seats, and once again the game was tied, this time 3-3.
The inning continued for the Tigers as Candelario walked, and Goodrum was able to get to first on a throwing error from Andrus, but no further runs scored, leaving the game tied at 3.
In the top of the fifth a freshly returned José Ureña taking over from Peralta. And, well… not a triumphant return, let’s just say. Harrison got a one-out single, followed by a Marte single, then Olson hit a deep double to score both Harrison and Marte. Lowrie then doubled to score Olson. Canha also got a single, but no additional runs came home. Still, the A’s were now up 6-3.
As things moved into the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers continued to fight, this time with a leadoff home run off the bat of Akil Baddoo. While the remaining three batters all grounded out, it was nice to see Baddoo heat up a bit.
In the sixth, Ureña had a cleaner outing, giving up only a double to Harrison, and no runs scored. Then in the bottom of the sixth with two men out, Harold Castro hit himself a solo home run to bring the score to 6-5.
Joe Jiménez came on for the Tigers in the seventh and had a nice clean 1-2-3 inning. The bottom of the seventh was finally the Tigers’ moment to shine. Hill reached on an infield single, then Baddoo drew a walk. Schoop singled, which was enough to bring Hill home and tie things up once again. Grossman flied out, but it was enough to advance Baddoo to third. Then a single from Cabrera brought Baddoo home and gave the Tigers the lead for the first time in the game.
Cisnero was the next Tigers reliever to take the mound, and put the A’s down in order at the top of the eighth. Harold Castro, having himself quite the night, doubled to lead off the Tigers half of the inning, and then advanced to third on a wild pitch from A’s reliever Jeffries. Daulton Jeffries is 100% the name of a butler in Downton Abbey. (No one confirm this, I am lying). Baddoo then singled to bring Castro home, padding out the Tigers lead.
Soto came on for the ninth, hopefully to shut things down. And shut them down he did with a neat 1-2-3 inning, giving the Tigers the win.
Final: Tigers 8, A’s 6
Someone on Twitter also suggested it would be a good time to wish non-Tigers, definitely-Mets player Marv Throneberry a happy birthday today, and while Marv is 1. dead, and 2. actually celebrating his birthday tomorrow, let it never be said I don’t wish my fellow Virgos a happy birthday. Here’s to you, Marv.