Stop me if you've heard this one: A Tigers fielder commits an error. The opposing team goes on to make them pay. Sound familiar? Of course it does. It happened to Doug Fister a few weeks ago, and it happened to him again tonight against the Texas Rangers.
Miguel Cabrera committed a throwing error on the second inning, then David Murphy hit a three-run homer an at bat later. In this case, it really didn't matter a whole lot, apparently. Texas was hitting well already, and kept doing so against Fister the rest of the game.
Texas added three more runs in the fourth inning -- another home run by Murphy as well as one by Ian Kinsler -- and three in the fifth. The rout was on.
By the time it was time to hit the showers, Fister's 4 1/3 inning total stood at nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits and a walk. He struck out five.
Detroit managed to score more than its fair share of runs, too, and a four-run eighth cut the deficit to just two runs. The team certainly has fight, which you like to see. But it just couldn't get any closer when the Yakety Sax defense (h/t to Big Al!) gave it back.
Duane Below, fortunately, stopped the bleeding and saved the bullpen. So I'll give him my vote for unsung hero.
Jhonny Peralta led the TIgers' lineup with three hits and two RBI. Quintin Berry had a three-hit game of his own, improving his average to .321. Pretty much everyone had a hit -- except Prince Fielder. But he still found a way to get on base.
3 ROARS
Peralta -- Another nice game by the Tigers' shortstop
Berry -- We keep saying he can't keep this up -- and really, he can't. But right now, he's a Tyger, Tyger burning bright.
Below - Saved the bullpen but allowed two runs
3 HISSES
Texas -- hot weather, hot bats, grrr.
Fister -- That one is obvious, hey?
Ryan Raburn -- I wanted to go with Brennan Boesch, but Ry-Ry ... oy.
GAME 74 POG
Prince Fielder ran away with it.