The Tigers left LA-Anaheim just minus-one in the run column, and as you could probably imagine with a minor run differential like that, it was a split series. However, it could have easily been a sweep in Detroit’s favor, too. Since we didn’t recap the games individually, consider this your series recap, which you’ll see every now and then throughout the season.
GAME 1: Angels 2, Tigers 0
This was a 2-0 decision in favor of the Angels and it was a damn shame. Who knows how many good starts Dontrelle Willis has left in his system, so anytime he gives your team a quality start you’d better take advantage of it. Willis went six innings, and gave up just two runs, but the Tigers were just 1-9 with RISP and left eight men on base. They outhit the Angels 9-4. Former Tigers closer, Fernando Rodney, picked up the save for the Angels
GAME 2: Angels 6, Tigers 5
As the story has gone for much of this season, the Tigers starting pitching struggled, they failed to jump on the opposing starting pitcher, and left too many runners in scoring position. Scott Kazmir struck out seven in a quality start (6 IP, 2 ER) for the Angels opposite Rick Porcello who struggled to get through just 4.2 innings. The bullpen picked up Porcello nicely, and the Tigers scored five runs in the 6th and 7th inning combined, but the early hole was too much to climb back from. The Tigers left 10 men on base and were once again closed out by their former closer, Fernando Rodney.
GAME 3: Tigers 4, Angels 3
This was by far the best game of the series. It looked like the Tigers were going to be in for a long night when Bonderman gave up three first inning runs, but he recovered and the Tigers did too, eventually. After the rocky first, Bondo went five scoreless and struck out five in all. The bullpen was stellar again, going three scoreless and allowing just one hit. With the score tied 3-2 heading into the 9th inning, the Angels opted to go with their season opening closer, fresh off injury, Brian Fuentes. Miguel Cabrera led things off with an epic, qualit at-bat and capped it off with a moon shot of a home run to tie the game at three. The Tigers would go on to take a 4-3 lead later in the inning on a Ramon Santiago bloop single to left, plating Gerald Laird. Jose Valverde picked up the save in a 1-2-3 fashion.
GAME 4: Tigers, 5, Angels 4
Another rocky start for Justin Verlander (5 IP, 4 ER, and 4 BB), but for once, the Tigers jumped all over the opposing starter. Joe Saunders lasted just 2.2 innings and gave up five earned runs on six hits. Oddly enough, the Tigers scored all five of their runs in the first few innings and were shut down for the rest of the game. Luckily, the Tigers bullpen was strong to quite strong in relief of Verlander. They gave up just three hits and struck out five in the final four frames. Jose Valverde picked up his fifth save of the young season by completing the 9th inning.
BULLPEN STRONG LIKE BULL
The bullpen was absolutely phenom. in the Angels series. 13.2 innings pitched, six hits, ZERO runs, three walks, and ten strikeouts. VERY GOOD.
LOOKS AT THE ROOKS
Overall, not a good series for the rookies. Austin Jackson went just 3-15 with 9 K’s, while Scott Sizemore went 3-11. The good news is they played quality defense and weren’t the reason the Tigers left so many runners in scoring position (just two combined for the rooks). Here’s to a better series in Texas.
STANDINGS
Someone once said that looking at the standings in April is a waste of time. Well, that guy is an idiot. Here are the standings thus far:
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