:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15456763/sad_paws.0.jpg)
The Angels beat the Tigers 7-4 tonight, putting them on the brink of both a series and season sweep. Left-handed reliever Dane De La Rosa got the win for the Angels, while Jose Alvarez took the loss for the Tigers. Ernesto Frieri picked up his 18th save of the year with a scoreless ninth.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia had his work cut out for him tonight when Tommy Hanson was scratched just prior to the game with tightness in his right forearm. The Angels bullpen, led by spot starter Billy Buckner, held the Tigers to three runs despite 10 hits and two walks. The Angels used six pitchers in all.
Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first inning off of Buckner to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. The Tigers added a third run in the third inning when Prince Fielder singled home Hunter. Cabrera nearly brought the Tigers within two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but his line drive to right field swerved just foul before hitting the top of the wall. Fielder scored the Tigers' final run on a passed ball in the bottom of the eighth.
Meanwhile, the Angels' home runs did more damage. Mike Trout and Erick Aybar hit two-run home runs off Alvarez in the third and sixth innings, respectively. Aybar's home run came after a long visit to the mound from pitching coach Jeff Jones, leading many to wonder if Jim Leyland left Alvarez in too long. Alvarez was pulled after Aybar's home run in favor of newly-minted "relief ace" Drew Smyly. He did not fare much better, however, allowing three runs in the top of the seventh to give the Angels a 7-3 lead.
The Tigers finish up this series and homestand with one more game against the Angels tomorrow at 1:08 p.m. Doug Fister and Jered Weaver are the starting pitchers.
MS PAINT ARTWORK SUBMITTED BY BYB COMMENTERS:
kland83's "LAA-DET season series"
NCDee's "Untitled":
WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:
Source: FanGraphs
BULLETS:
Baseball can be both exciting and frustrating. Tonight was definitely the latter.
J.B. Shuck nearly Gordon Beckham'd Erick Abyar on a pop-up in the second inning.
For those that don't understand the Beckham reference, click here.
It's easy to blame Jim Leyland for leaving Alvarez in to face Aybar in the sixth inning, especially considering how easily Smyly dispatched Brendan Harris after coming into the game. However, if Smyly wasn't ready prior to Aybar's at-bat, Alvarez was a better candidate to face him than Putkonen. Aybar was hitting just .242/.246/.288 against left-handed pitchers prior to tonight's game, good for an OPS nearly 200 points lower than against right-handers. Basically, Smyly > Alvarez > Putkonen there. Aybar just ran into one.
Meanwhile, in New York...
h/t @jonahkeri
Allowing baserunners in front of Mike Trout is never a good idea, but when you let J.B. Shuck reach base twice and score two runs, you deserve to be beaten.
It took me eight innings to realize that Angel Hernandez was behind the plate. This is how umpiring should happen.
Prince Fielder made a defensive gaffe in the seventh inning that won't show up in the box score. With runners on first and third and one out, Josh Hamilton hit a sharp ground ball straight to Fielder, who was playing close to the bag to hold Mark Trumbo at the base. Fielder stepped on first to retire Hamilton, but instead of turning to throw to second, he attempted to throw out Trout -- arguably the fastest guy in baseball -- at home. This, predictably, did not end well, and extended the inning for the Angels. Had Prince thrown to second before stepping on first, the Tigers could have escaped the inning down 5-3 -- Trout's run would not have counted with the force plays at both first and second.
Things Mario and Rod did tonight:
- Discuss cotton candy
- Praise Mike Trout
- Send Twitter into a frenzy because they praised Mike Trout
- Use the word "effervescent"
- Compare Austin Jackson's beard to the members of ZZ Top
- Blame Carlos Guillen for the incident with Jered Weaver in 2011
- Refer to said play as "Best. Home Run. Ever."
- Talk about the "scenery" on South Beach
The Angels are 8-0 against the Tigers going back to last season. 12% of their offense this season has come in five games against the Tigers.
THREE ROARS:
Al Alburquerque: Al Al pitched a perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts. He needs to do this more often.
Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera: Two hits apiece, including the aforementioned back-to-back home runs.
BONUS ROAR (sort of):
Omar Infante: He didn't have a hit, but he turned a nice double play with Trout at the plate in the ninth inning. I'm trying to find something positive here.
THREE HISSES:
Jose Alvarez: Alvarez was pretty good for most of his outing, but that hanging breaking ball to Aybar was as bad of a pitch as we have seen from him so far.
Drew Smyly: Even the best guys have off nights. Smyly let a close one slip away, allowing three runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Jobu: Seriously, it was just one of those nights. The Angels got all the bounces, the Tigers didn't. Some may think it's interesting that we've had two of these nights in a row (and eight in a row against the Angels), but it's hard to find a third person to single out tonight.
ROLL CALL:
| Roll Call Info | |
|---|---|
| Total comments | 882 |
| Total commenters | 42 |
| Commenter list | BSells12, BadCompany22, C5wynn, Cabbylander, DJ Screw, DetroitSports, Elfuego51, HookSlide, JWurm,J_the_Man, Jacob30, Joaquin on Sunshine, KGW, Lukas M, MSUDersh, Mark in Chicago, Michigan&TrumbullinLA,NCDee, Rob Rogacki, SAchris, SanDiegoMick, Scarsdale_Vibe, Singledigit, Starsailor, Tigerdog1, Trout Jefferson, Verlanderful, Wolfgang97, aarone46, aelix, bowling255, brunokm, dishnet34, dominator039, frisbeepilot,keepitcomplicated, kirdo, kland83, knucklescarbone, madpoopz, rbbaker, stevenyc |
| Story URLs | http://www.blessyouboys.com/2013/6/26/4466202/game-76-angels-at-tigers-7-08-p-m/in/4231559http://www.blessyouboys.com/2013/6/26/4468662/game-76-overflow-angels-at-tigers |
TOP TEN COMMENTERS:
| # | Commenter | # Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joaquin on Sunshine | 114 |
| 2 | BadCompany22 | 91 |
| 3 | frisbeepilot | 75 |
| 4 | kland83 | 64 |
| 5 | J_the_Man | 58 |
| 6 | MSUDersh | 58 |
| 7 | SanDiegoMick | 57 |
| 8 | stevenyc | 53 |
| 9 | HookSlide | 36 |
| 10 | Rob Rogacki | 35 |
TOP RECS:
GAME 75 PLAYER OF THE GAME:
The "fans who stuck it out to the end" carried 75% of the vote after last night's 14-8 drubbing.