Game Report - July 28, 2013 - Tigers 12, Phillies 4
Steve Bielawski
Looking just as the final score, it might seem as though this game was an easy one for the Tigers. It certainly became easy for them, but it did not start out that way.
Both Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera walked in the first, but Prince Fielder grounded into a double play to end the inning. Bad bit of luck.
In the top of the second, John Mayberry, Jr., walked, went to second on a groundout, and scored on a single by Carlos Ruiz.
Alex Avila led off the bottom of the third with a ground-rule double. Ramon Santiago followed with a single, but Mr. Avila did not score. Austin Jackson walked to load the bases with still no one out in the inning. Don Kelly popped out. Miguel Cabrera looked at two strikes, and when Chad Fairchild went up with his right hand for strike two, Mr. Cabrera allegedly uttered a "homophobic slur". Mr. Fairchild ejected Mr. Cabrera in the middle of his at-bat. Jim Leyland came out to argue the ejection (an argument which the manager never wins), and he, too, was ejected. Matt Tuiasosopo took over the at-bat, which goes into the books as a strikeout by Miguel Cabrera. Prince Fielder popped out foul to third, marking the second time in three innings that he stranded baserunners as he ended the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Kevin Frandsen hit a ground-rule double, went to third on a single by John Mayberry, Jr., and score on a single by Laynce Nix.
Steve Susdorf (who is not even a household name in the households of his cousins) led off the fifth with a double and went to third on a bunt. Michael Young struck out the second out of the inning. Chase Utley drew an intentional walk, and Darin Ruf singled to drive in Mr. Susdorf. 3-0 Phillies.
In the bottom of the fifth, Ramon Santiago beat out a bunt single, Austin Jackson singled, and Don Kelly singled to load the bases. Matt Tuiasosopo singled to drive in Mr. Santiago. Mr Jackson scored when Prince Fielder grounded out. Mr. Kelly scored when Victor Martinez grounded out. The Tigers had managed to tie the game at 3-3.
Jonathan Pettibone was done for the day after five innings. Jacob Diekman came in to pitch as the sixth inning started. Andy Dirks walked and Alex Avila was safe on a fielder's choice, which in fact resulted in no out when Mr. Deikman threw the ball badly to second. Ramon Santiago beat out a bunt single to load the bases. Austin Jackson flew out, and Mr. Dirks did not score on that play. Mr. Dirks did score on a sacrifice fly by Don Kelly, but leftfielder Steve Susdorf dropped the ball, and so the bases were still loaded. Matt Tuiasosopo walked to drive in Mr. Avila, then Mr. Tuiasosopo left the game for pinch-runner Hernan Perez. Prince Fielder was safe on a fielder's choice, but the throw by firstbaseman Darin Ruf was offline and the Phillies did not get Ramon Santiago at the plate. With the bases still loaded, Victor Martinez walked to drive in Mr. Perez. That brought up Jhonny Peralta, and he hit a grand slam home run. The Tigers
had an 11-3 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Austin Jackson doubled and scored on a single by Hernan Perez.
In the top of the eighth, Darin Ruf doubled and scored on a single by Kevin Frandsen.
The Tigers did win a blowout, thanks to one big inning today. However, the big difference between yesterday's game and today's is that yesterday Max Scherzer and tow relievers kept the Phillies off the scoreboard. Today, the Phillies not only scored, but they had a lead for a while.
Still, the Tigers have swept this series. They yave won three games in a row and eight of their last nine. They now take the day off on Monday (a bit longer for Mr. Cabrera and Mr. Hunter to heal), then play a two-game series against the Nationals.
> Detroit Tigers AB R H RBI BB SO #P AVG OBP SLG
> A Jackson CF 4 2 2 0 2 0 21 .271 .346 .397
Walked in the first.
Walked again in the third.
Singled to right in the fifth and scored.
Doubled to centre in the seventh and scored.
Finally, a good game from him.
> D Kelly RF-3B-RF 3 2 1 1 1 0 18 .236 .344 .378
Singled up the middle in the fifth and scored.
Was safe when Steve Susdorf misplayed his sac fly in the sixth;
he drove in Mr. Dirks,
and he scored shortly after that.
Walked in the seventh.
> M Cabrera 3B 1 0 0 0 1 1 7 .360 .455 .672
Walked in the first.
Was charged with a strikeout after being ejected in the third.
> M Tuiasosopo PH-LF 1 0 1 2 1 0 8 .301 .419 .573
Singled to right in the fifth
to drive in Mr. Santiago.
Walked in the sixth
to drive in Mr. Avila, then left for. . .
> H Perez PR-2B 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 .290 .303 .355
Ran for Mr Tiasosopo in the sixth and scored.
Singled to left in the seventh
to drive in Mr. Jackson.
> P Fielder DH 5 1 0 1 0 0 12 .261 .353 .440
Grounded into a double play in the first.
Grounded out to second in the fifth
as Mr. Jackson scored.
Was safe on a fielder's choice in the sixth
as Mr. Santiago scored on an error;
Mr. Fielder would soon score as well.
Grounded into a double play in the seventh.
In the KIITI club.
> V Martinez 1B 3 1 1 2 2 0 32 .270 .323 .397
Walked in the fourth.
Grounded out to first in the fifth
as Mr. Kelly scored.
Walked in the sixth
to drive in Mr. Kelly;
he would soon cross the plate as well.
Singled to right in the eighth.
> J Peralta SS 5 1 2 4 0 0 23 .305 .359 .458
Singled to left in the forth.
Homered well back to left in the sixth
to drive in Mr. erez, Mr. Fielder, and Mr. Martinez.
> A Dirks LF-RF-LF 4 1 1 0 1 1 20 .245 .304 .348
Walked in the sixth and scored.
Singled to shallow right in the eighth.
> A Avila C 5 1 1 0 0 2 11 .193 .289 .309
Hit a ground-rule double to left-centre in the third.
Grounded into a double play in the fourth.
Was safe on a fielder's choice in the sixth and scored.
> R Santiago 2B-3B 4 2 3 0 1 0 11 .188 .261 .267
Singled to left in the third.
Beat out a bunt single in the fifth and scored.
Beat out a bunt single in the sixth and scored.
Walked in the eighth.
> Totals 36 12 13 11 9 4 164
Twelve runs is wonderful.
> 2B: A Avila (8, J Pettibone); A Jackson (17, A Bastardo)
> HR: J Peralta (10, 6th inning off L Garcia 3 on, 1 Out)
> RBI: M Tuiasosopo 2 (27), P Fielder (75), V Martinez 2 (59),
> D Kelly (15), J Peralta 4 (53), H Perez (4)
It's hard to believe, but none of the Tigers' twelve runs
came with two outs.
> GIDP: P Fielder 2, A Avila
> Tigers RISP: 6-20 (D Kelly 1-2, P Fielder 0-5, A Jackson 0-2,
> A Avila 0-2, R Santiago 2-2, A Dirks 0-1, H Perez 1-1,
> M Tuiasosopo 1-2, V Martinez 0-1, J Peralta 1-2)
> Team LOB: 10
> DP: 1 (J Peralta-R Santiago-V Martinez).
> Outfield Assist: A Dirks (K Frandsen at 2nd base).
> Philadelphia Phillies AB R H RBI BB SO #P AVG OBP SLG
> J Rollins SS 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 .259 .317 .352
Collared.
> J McDonald PH-SS 1 0 0 0 0 1 6 .095 .174 .119
> M Young 3B 3 0 1 0 0 1 8 .277 .342 .402
> M Martinez PH-3B 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .100 .100 .100
> C Utley DH 3 0 0 0 1 1 17 .274 .337 .498
Contained.
Two Phillies were aboard the 0-fer Express today.
> D Ruf 1B 4 1 2 1 0 1 16 .310 .403 .517
> K Frandsen 2B 4 1 2 1 0 0 13 .280 .368 .415
> J Mayberry Jr. CF 3 1 1 0 1 0 21 .256 .309 .432
> L Nix RF 4 0 1 1 0 0 7 .180 .225 .262
> C Ruiz C 4 0 1 1 0 0 15 .253 .301 .280
> S Susdorf LF 4 1 1 0 0 1 17 .143 .143 .286
> Totals 33 4 9 4 2 5 127
Four runs will win quite a few games, but not this one.
> 2B: K Frandsen (7, R Porcello); S Susdorf (1, R Porcello);
> D Ruf (6, B Rondon)
> RBI: C Ruiz (9), L Nix (7), D Ruf (4), K Frandsen (17)
> 2-out RBI: C Ruiz, D Ruf
> GIDP: C Ruiz
> Phillies RISP: 5-8 (L Nix 1-1, M Young 0-1, C Ruiz 1-2,
> K Frandsen 1-2, J Mayberry Jr. 1-1, D Ruf 1-1)
> Team LOB: 5
> E: J Diekman (2, throw); S Susdorf (1, fly ball);
> D Ruf (2, throw)
> DP: 3 (J Rollins-K Frandsen-D Ruf, D Ruf-J Rollins-D Ruf,
> K Frandsen-J McDonald-D Ruf).
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Philadelphia Phillies (49-56, 23-35 away) 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 - 4 9 3
> Detroit Tigers (59-45, 32-19 home) 0 0 0 0 3 8 1 0 x - 12 13 0
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
An eight-run inning is a thing of beauty
when the Tigers score the eight runs.
> Detroit Tigers IP H R ER BB SO HR PC-ST ERA
> R Porcello (W, 8-6) 6.0 7 3 3 2 3 0 86-58 4.49
Barely a "quality start,"
and he allowed a lot of baserunners,
but he gave his team a chance to win.
> D Smyly 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 15-10 1.77
Perfect, with one strikeout.
> B Rondon 1.0 2 1 1 0 0 0 17-13 5.79
Still needs some work.
> P Coke 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 9-6 5.46
Lookie who else turned in a perfect inning.
If you are going to use him,
use him in a blowout.
> Totals 9.0 9 4 4 2 5 0 127-87
> IBB: C Utley (By R Porcello)
> First-pitch strikes/Batters faced: R Porcello 12/26;
> D Smyly 3/3; B Rondon 3/4; P Coke 3/3
> Called strikes-Swinging strikes-Foul balls-In Play strikes:
> R Porcello 11-6-20-21;
> D Smyly 4-1-3-2; B Rondon 5-0-4-4; P Coke 2-1-1-2
> Ground Balls-Fly Balls: R Porcello 11-4;
> D Smyly 0-2; B Rondon 1-1; P Coke 0-2
> Game Scores: R Porcello 47
> Philadelphia Phillies IP H R ER BB SO HR PC-ST ERA
> J Pettibone 5.0 7 3 3 4 1 0 78-44 4.04
Not good, but not that bad.
> J Diekman (L, 0-1) 0.1 1 4 0 1 0 0 16-8 4.11
The start of the problems in the sixth.
> L Garcia 0.0 1 4 0 2 0 1 22-10 0.00
Pitched to four batters in the sixth,
and did not record an out.
A walk, an error, a walk, and a grand slam.
He allowed all three inherited runners to score.
> A Bastardo 1.2 2 1 1 1 2 0 22-15 2.52
Ended the sixth, but he had a few problems later.
> J Papelbon 1.0 2 0 0 1 1 0 26-18 2.21
Auditioning for a trade?
> Totals 8.0 13 12 4 9 4 1 164-95
Only 4 of the Tigers' 12 runs were earned,
but the pitchers still know
that they pitched badly
when they allowed those unearned runs.
> L Garcia pitched to 4 batters in the 6th
> First-pitch strikes/Batters faced: J Pettibone 17/24;
> J Diekman 3/5; L Garcia 1/4;
> A Bastardo 7/7; J Papelbon 4/6
> Called strikes-Swinging strikes-Foul balls-In Play strikes:
> J Pettibone 15-1-11-17; J Diekman 2-0-2-4;
> L Garcia 2-0-6-2; A Bastardo 4-4-4-3; J Papelbon 5-3-7-3
> Ground Balls-Fly Balls: J Pettibone 9-5;
> J Diekman 0-2; L Garcia 0-0; A Bastardo 2-1; J Papelbon 1-1
> Game Scores: J Pettibone 38
> Game Notes
> TIGERS MANAGER JIM LEYLAND WAS EJECTED BY HOME PLATE UMPIRE
> CHAD FAIRCHILD IN THE BOTTOM OF THE THIRD INNING FOR ARGUING.
> TIGERS THIRD BASEMAN MIGUEL CABRERA WAS EJECTED BY HOME PLATE UMPIRE
> CHAD FAIRCHILD IN THE BOTTOM OF THE THIRD INNING FOR ARGUING
> BALLS AND STRIKES.
> Game Information
> Stadium Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
> Attendance 41,326 (100.2% full)
Full houses all weekend.
> Game Time 3:16
A bit long, but Tigers fans didn't mind too much.
> Weather 64 degrees, partly cloudy
> Wind 10 mph
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Grand slam caps eight-run sixth inning as Tigers rout Phillies
DETROIT -- By the time Jhonny Peralta broke the game open with a sixth-inning grand slam, the Detroit Tigers were already well on their way to another victory.
For that, they could thank the Philadelphia Phillies, whose eighth straight loss might have been the ugliest of the bunch.
Peralta's slam capped an eight-run sixth for Detroit, and the Tigers overcame Miguel Cabrera's ejection in a 12-4 win over the collapsing Phillies on Sunday.
Cabrera was tossed while batting with the bases loaded in the third and manager Jim Leyland was ejected, too.
Detroit still got plenty of additional chances against a Philadelphia team that all but handed the game away with errors and walks.
"We got some benefits today," Leyland said. "They struggled a little bit defensively, and a little bit throwing strikes."
In the sixth, the Tigers scored eight runs on only two hits. The Phillies made three errors and walked three batters in the inning.
Rick Porcello (8-6) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings to win his fourth straight start.
Reliever Jake Diekman (0-1) took the loss, but he was hardly the only culprit for Philadelphia.
The Phillies had already blown a 3-0 lead when Diekman came on to start the bottom of the sixth in a tie game.
He allowed a leadoff walk to Andy Dirks, then threw wildly to second for an error when Alex Avila bunted. Ramon Santiago's bunt single loaded the bases, and after Austin Jackson's flyout to shallow right field, Don Kelly's flyball to left was dropped by rookie Steve Susdorf for another error.
Kelly was credited with a sacrifice fly, the Tigers took a 4-3 lead and the bases remained loaded.
Luis Garcia replaced Diekman, and Matt Tuiasosopo -- who had come in earlier for Cabrera -- drew a walk to force in a run. Prince Fielder followed with a grounder to first, but Darin Ruf's throw home was off the mark for yet another error.
Victor Martinez's bases-loaded walk made it 7-3, and Peralta followed with his 10th homer of the year and fourth career grand slam.
All eight runs in the inning were unearned.
The Tigers have won seven of eight, and they lead the AL Central by three games over Cleveland. Detroit outscored Philadelphia 24-5 in the three-game sweep.
"It's hard, man. It's tough," Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz said. "We're not playing good baseball right now. It's embarrassing to see that."
Cabrera's spot in the order came up three times with the bases loaded, but he was only around for one of them -- and not for long. Down 1-0, the Tigers had the bases full with nobody out in the third. Kelly popped out on a 3-1 pitch, bringing Cabrera to the plate.
After two called strikes, the Triple Crown winner said something to plate umpire Chad Fairchild, although not in a demonstrative fashion. Cabrera was tossed, and Leyland was thrown out too when he came out for what ended up being a lengthy argument.
"I called strike one and he began to argue balls and strikes. I warned him to stop, but after the second pitch, he began to argue balls and strikes again, and was removed from the game," Fairchild said.
"Jim came out and asked for an explanation, which I gave to him. He then began to argue balls and strikes, and since he had left his position and argued balls and strikes, he was removed from the game."
Cabrera was charged with a strikeout when Philadelphia starter Jonathan Pettibone threw strike three to Tuiasosopo -- since Tuiasosopo was facing a two-strike count when he replaced Cabrera.
"I said the call was horrible and he threw me out," Cabrera said. "I think it's not time to blame anybody -- to blame the umpires, to blame somebody else. You want to compete and you want to do something special and try to win games. I'm kind of upset at how he threw me out, but that happens."
Fielder fouled out to end the inning.
Fielder came to the plate three times with the bases loaded, including during Detroit's three-run fifth. The Tigers started that inning with consecutive singles by Santiago, Jackson, Kelly and Tuiasosopo, scoring their first run on Tuiasosopo's hit. Fielder and Martinez followed with RBI groundouts to tie it at 3.
Pettibone allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. He also walked four.
Detroit had at least two runners on base in seven of its eight innings at the plate. The Tigers finished the game 6 of 20 with runners in scoring position. They had 12 plate appearances with the bases loaded, the team's most since at least 1974, according to STATS.
Cabrera's spot came up with two on in the seventh. At that point, Hernan Perez was batting there, and he singled to drive in another run.
Game notes
Fairchild was also the plate umpire in Detroit's July 11 game against the Chicago White Sox, when Leyland and Detroit reliever Luke Putkonen were ejected. ...
Susdorf's fifth-inning double was his first career hit. ...
Both teams are off Monday. Detroit hosts Washington on Tuesday night, with RHP Anibal Sanchez (8-7) facing Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (5-8). The Phillies host San Francisco. Philadelphia LHP John Lannan (2-4) takes on Giants LHP Barry Zito (4-7).