By Matt Harding
In Play on Facebook
Having entered Saturday's game winning 17 of their last 21 games, the Tigers looked to keep up with their winning ways. They had Max Scherzer on the mound facing off against the Twins' Anthony Swarzak.
After a scoreless first inning, the Twins got things moving in the second. Chris Parmelee got on base and went from first to third on a single by Joe Benson; the hit was Benson's first as a big leaguer. Scherzer then picked off Benson while Brian Dinkelman grounded out to third base. The runner on third still did not score. Scherzer finally got out of trouble after Luke Hughes flew out to Delmon Young, who made a great catch on the warning track.
Hitless through two innings, the Tigers started up the bats in the third. Although Jhonny Peralta led off the inning by striking out, Wilson Betemit crushed a home run to right field right after him.
Wilson Betemit gave the Tigers an early 1-0 lead
Photo by Matt Harding / In Play! Magazine
That 1-0 lead didn't hold up for too long. Joe Mauer cranked an opposite field home run, tying the game at one apiece. The Tigers threatened in the fourth; Andy Dirks led off with a ground
rule double to deep center field. He was moved over to third on a Miguel Cabrera ground ball. Dirks scored on a Victor Martinez single. Score: 2-1 Tigers.
Minnesota would tie it up in the sixth with a couple of hits and a sacrifice fly. By the bottom of the inning, with the Tigers at the plate, the shadows crept in between the batter's box and the pitcher's mound. Young struck out swinging and Cabrera grounded out to the second baseman. Martinez didn't seem to be affected by the shadows and drew a walk. Avila flew out to left.
Martinez went 1 for 3 with a walk
Photo by Matt Harding / In Play! Magazine
The seventh inning began with a double off the bat of Benson. After getting his first MLB hit in the second inning, this would be his first extra base hit. However, nothing would come of it as Scherzer struck out two batters.
The Tigers got something cooking in the bottom of the inning as Ramon Santiago doubled and Austin Jackson walked (his second of the game). Dirks couldn't come through, however, and flew out to center field.
Heading into the eighth, the Tigers had two runs on five hits and so did the Twins. Scherzer was taken out of the game for reliever Phil Coke. Scherzer pitched seven strong innings and was responsible for the five hits and two runs; he also walked three and struck out six Minnesota batters.
Peralta did plenty of swinging and missing with his three strikeouts
Photo by Matt Harding / In Play! Magazine
Coke came into the game throwing strikes and got three quick outs. As for the Tigers, they came into the eighth with their 3-4-5 hitters. Young grounded out weakly to the second baseman. Cabrera flew out to right field; Martinez hit a ball to deep center field that was caught.
Al Alburquerque came in during the top of the ninth and shut down the Twins offense. Still tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers looked to stay away from extra innings and get the walk off base hit. Could Avila do it? How about Peralta, who had accrued a hat-trick's worth of strikeout? Or could it be the sub-.200 hitter Brandon Inge, who had replaced Wilson Betemit defensively the previous inning?
It wasn't Avila; he grounded out to the shortstop. Nor was it Peralta, although, he didn't strike out for the fourth time.
That sub-.200 hitter I just mentioned... it was HIM! Inge hit a no-doubter to the left field stands, giving the Tigers their eighth straight victory.
After tomorrow's series finale, the club begins a nine-game road trip to Chicago, Oakland, and Kansas City. Stay tuned for photos from after the game tomorrow. And, as always, Go Tigers!
