The Detroit Tigers came from behind for the second game in a row to beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-2. The Tigers took the weekend series two games to one. Max Scherzer claimed a well deserved win, allowing just a run while striking out nine in seven innings of work.. Ervin Santana was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs in seven innings.
Prince Fielder (23) and Delmon Young (14) hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth to give the Tigers a lead they would never relinquish. Andy Dirks and Quintin Berry also chipped in with RBI. Kendrys Morales led the Anges' offense with 2 hits and their lone RBI.
Story of the game is a short one - Max Scherzer is good at baseball. When he's on, Scherzer has elite, top of the rotation stuff. After today's lights out performance, the Angels can vouch for it.
BULLETS:
- The Tigers are 69-58 on the season. With games still in progress, the Tigers are 2 back of the White Sox in the Central and just 1/2 game back of Orioles and Athletics for the 2nd Wild Card.
- It was a good week for the Tigers, the win wrapping up a 6-3 home stand. Now if the White Sox would just lose occasionally...
- Pure and simple, the day belonged to Max Scherzer, who leads the Tigers in wins with 14,
- Scherzer leads the majors in strikeouts with 195, overtaking Justin Verlander, who has 193. They'll be handing the lead back and forth for the rest of season. Between the 2 of them, it's looking as if the last one to start a game this season wins the K title.
- Scherzer's 9 K's gave him a new Tigers record of striking out at least 8 in 8 consecutive games, breaking Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser's franchise record.
- Scherzer allowed 4 hits to the first 6 Angels batters. He ended up setting down 14 straight Angels from the 2nd through 6th innings. He walked the lead off man in the 7th before sending the Angels down 1-2-3. I think we can all agree the most fitting word to use to describe Scherzer today is "Dominant." Or another possibility would be "Verlander-esque."
- No Miguel Cabrera, no problem. Andy Dirks stepped into the 3 spot in the batting order and got on base 3 times. Jeff Baker took over at 3rd base and chimed in with a hit.
- Young hit over .330 with a +.800 OPS in the 9 game home stand.
- I apologize for the shorter than the norm recap (by about 1000 words!). I took part in an NFL podcast mid-game which took much longer than expected.
SCREEN CAP OF THE DAY:
The Angels' outfielders put on a show over the weekend (Jim Leyland admitted as much in the post game presser), the capper being Vernon Wells robbing Omar Infante of a home run in the 1st inning. Wells may be vastly overpaid, but can still play the outfield with the best of them.
3 ROARS:
Max Scherzer: On the last BYB podcast, Kurt and I debated if Scherzer had become a true number 2 starter. He's well on his way with performances like today.
Delmon Young: 2 hits and a home run was the cherry on top of a great week.
Prince Fielder: With Cabrera out of the lineup, the big man came through in a big way with 2 hits, 2 RBI and a game winning home run.
BONUS ROAR:
Andy Dirks Tripled in the Tigers first run of the game, missing a home run by a neck. Batting 3rd in the order agreed with Dirks, though Leyland was quick to say that the 3 spot would remain Cabrera's. (silly, I know)
3 HISSES:
Austin Jackson: Had an awful 0-4, 2 K game at the plate. His series was just as bad, going 0-13.
Gerald Laird: 0-3 on the afternoon. Offensively, G$ has turned into G¢ in the 2nd half.
Mike Trout: Have to get in a dig at Wonderboy, who struck out 3 times today and was 1-13 with 5 K in the 3 game series.
GAME 126 PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Hitting a game-winning double in the bottom of 8th will usually win you a PotG. It did in Jhonny Peralta's case, narrowly beating Drew Smyly.