KEY STATS
In two games against the Dodgers, the Tigers are 1-10 with RISP. They've also struck out 22 times and scored all of one run.
The Tigers' offense? At the moment, It's offensive. Very offensive.
KEY PLAY
Miguel Cabrera grounding into a 6-4-3 double play to end the 6th inning.
Down 4-1, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the 6th, with Ryan Raburn due at the plate. Miguel Cabrera, out of the starting lineup for the first time this season, was ready to pinch hit if needed. Jim Leyland called the big man's number to face journeyman reliever Mike MacDougal, pitching for his 4th team in three seasons. It was a matchup made in baseball heaven for the Tigers. But it wasn't to be. Cabrera grounded MacDougal's 2nd pitch into a tailor made double play. Leyland went for it all, and came up snake eyes.
Andre Ethier then went yard against a struggling Max Scherzer in the bottom of the inning, giving the Dodgers an insurmountable 6-1 lead. The game was fait accompli from then on out.
KEY THOUGHTS
Scherzer was, once again, quite hittable. The loss bumped his ERA up to 4.62, which is in 5th starter territory. Not what you need or expect from the number two man in the rotation.
The Dodgers second run of the game shouldn't have scored. The 2nd base umpire blew a call on a rundown, as Aaron Miles overslid the bag, and should have been called out on Raburn's tag. Anyone else feel like the Tigers aren't getting any calls from the umpires? Wait, what? Oh, yeah. The Tigers did get benefit of an incorrect, game changing call from the umps last week against the Rays. Just another example of how umpire's calls tend to even out for a team over a long season. But an obviously bad call against the Tigers still sucks.
What made the whole sad situation funny was the reaction in the BYB game thread, with everyone hoping Raburn would get tossed from the game for his vigorously arguing the call. I don't think I've ever seen a fanbase root for their own player to get the thumb...but in Raburn's case, it's understandable.
I really wasn't happy with Leyland's lineup tonight. When your starting infield includes Don Kelly, Ramon Santiago and Raburn, then add in the pitcher batting and Cabrera on the bench...even when facing Chad Billingsley, scoring one run isn't all that surprising, is it?
The Tigers are playing lousy baseball. Worse, they are coming up empty against an underachieving team in the Dodgers, a franchise that makes more news off the field than on thanks to their moronic, greedy, shady and dead broke owner, Frank McCourt. But in the Tigers' defense, they have played 19 straight days, and day 20 is tomorrow. The Tigers are playing like a team badly in need of a day off...which they'll finally get on Thursday.
Despite the listless loss, there was a small silver lining for the 2nd place Tigers. The Indians stumbled again, so there's no change in the standings. The 3rd place White Sox did win, though. They now stand 3.5 back of the Tigers, and 4.5 behind the Tribe. Anyone hear footsteps?
I hate west coast swings. I despise National League style baseball. I'm sick and tired of interleague play. Judging by their performance, the Tigers must feel the same way.