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Bad Day by the Bay: Athletics 9, Tigers 4

After four starts in which he gave up a combined five runs, Rick Porcello broke down and allowed five versus the Oakland A's on Sunday afternoon.

More photos » Tony Avelar - AP

After four starts in which he gave up a combined five runs, Rick Porcello broke down and allowed five versus the Oakland A's on Sunday afternoon.

As if you didn't already know that the Detroit Tigers were an absolutely maddening team to watch, this weekend's series with the Oakland A's provided yet another example of frustrating play.

After struggling to score runs on Friday and Saturday, the Tigers finally broke through - albeit late in the game - and put up enough offense to adequately support its pitching staff.  Unfortunately, the pitchers couldn't hold up their end this time around, so the offense wasn't nearly enough.

Facing Oakland for the third time this season, Rick Porcello couldn't continue his recent run of success.  The pitches that had great movement on them over his past four starts spun and hung in the middle of the plate.  And the A's didn't miss them.  Jack Cust, especially, pounced upon those meatballs, smacking two home runs off Porcello, resulting in four runs and really all of the offense Oakland needed.

The Tigers staged a rally in the later innings against the A's bullpen, thanks largely to Miguel Cabrera's opposite field two-run homer in the eighth.  It was the 200th of his career, and came at an important moment, cutting Oakland's lead to 5-4. 

But Fu-Te Ni and Ryan Perry couldn't hold the A's back in their half of the inning, getting trampled under a five-run stampede.  Perry, in particular, couldn't keep the ball in the park, serving up homers to Landon Powell and Cliff Pennington.  It was a rather shocking performance, considering how well Perry pitched the night before (1.2 scoreless innings). 

Why Jim Leyland opted for Perry on a second straight day, rather than a presumably rested Brandon Lyon or Fernando Rodney is between him and his Marlboro Reds.  Another mystery, of course, is how a Tigers lineup could score only one run (with eight strikeouts?) against Brett Tomko, who was only making his second start of the season.  It all adds up to a continually baffling team on the road.

Purr:

Cabrera's home run was part of a 3-for-4 day at the plate, and extended what is now an eight-game hitting streak.  BigMig also has two homers and eight RBIs during that span. 

Getting Thursday and most of Friday off seems to have helped Curtis Granderson, who's gotten three hits in his last three games, including yesterday's leadoff home run.  And Marcus Thames broke his 0-for-12 slump with a pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh.

Whimper:

Normally, we come to praise Alex Avila.  But the west coast doesn't agree with him so far.  Maybe the time change threw off his circadian rhythms or something like that.  Regardless of the reason, Avila batted 0-for-7 over the weekend.

And Aubrey Huff has had a less than impressive first week as a Tiger, capped off by an 0-for-4 performance yesterday.  Billfer compared him to Sean Casey, with his frequent groundouts to second base.  That is only so painful because, thus far, it is so true.

Comment of the Day:

My scientific background

leads me to look for explanations for phenomena that make no sense according to all known laws of nature. :)

The Tigers would stump Steven Hawking and Albert Einstein both.

by Baroque

0 recs  |  Comment 13 comments |

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i didn't get to watch the end of it

and i guess i’m kind of glad now.

just to be different, watch us sweep the angels randomly.

I Like Pie

by mrsunshine on Aug 24, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

i wont call for a sweep...

But I do think they will play better than the prevailing opinion. Anyone see hennings column today? Dude is grinding that axe. He must not like the food spread for the writers at the copa.

by rook34 on Aug 24, 2009 10:28 AM EDT via mobile reply actions   0 recs

I try not to read Lynn Henning

all he does is piss me off.

Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.

by Detroitchik on Aug 24, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

yep glad mlb.tv died before rick was even off the mound

blahhhhhhhh.

I’ll try as hard as I can to be good luck down at anaheim stadium tonight :(

by allikazoo on Aug 24, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

we won't blame ya if it doesn't work

aAfter all, it is the Angels, and that stadium has been a chamber of horrors for the Tigers in recent years. Not unlike Comerica Park has been for the Rangers, come to think of it.

Hope you have fun at the game tonight!

Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!

by ahtrap on Aug 24, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's as if Avila finally figured out he was a rookie, and is supposed to struggle

Or maybe he felt bad about using his powers and making the veterans look bad in comparison.

Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!

by ahtrap on Aug 24, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

League is adjusting

Lets see what Avila does in response.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Aug 24, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Still...

Given the fact that the Angels tend to run wild on the bases, I’d prefer to see Laird catch the majority of the time in Anaheim.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Aug 24, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

There must be an invisible force field

around 10 wins above .500

Maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider!

by rwum14 on Aug 24, 2009 4:28 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Being awarded the coveted COTN award made my Monday a heck of a lot brighter. :)

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." -- Philo of Alexandria
(Currently, and sadly, on a self-imposed team-specific puck sabbatical.)

by Baroque on Aug 24, 2009 4:43 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Kudos

Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.

by Detroitchik on Aug 24, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

okay my friend i'm staying with had to go into work

and i’m BORED. is it time to go to the BASEBALL yet????

by allikazoo on Aug 24, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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