Blogging the Tigers-Rangers Game
Sorry I’m up here so late. Game availability issues and everything mean I can only get to you now. I’ll add a recap at the end
May 19, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus (middle) and Leonys Martin (right wait at home plate to welcome left fielder David Murphy (7) after Murphy hit a three run home run against the Detroit Tigers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sport
Bottom 6th:
Andy Dirks just made a fantastic grab in center field to save the Tigers three runs. Jose Ortega had already given up a three run homer with three outs and reloaded the bases with two singles and a walk and a fourth run with a seeing eye single. He had no control of any of his pitches, accept a slider he threw for a few strikes. Overall though, it seemed like he had no idea where the ball was going.
Top 7th:
First ball put in play for Tuisasosopo. He has walked three times. Peralta just hit a double down the line despite what looked like something of a shift. Hard to tell from the camera angle though. I’ll update if I see a replay. Robbie Ross came in to start the inning. Sorry I forgot to mention that.
Brayan Pena struck out looking on a nice fastball on the outside corner. Dirks just got rung up on an inside fastball that looked maybe a little too inside. The horizontal camera angle makes it hard to tell.
Phil Coke is on to pitch for the Tigers. He gives up a ton of singles and doubles but has nice stuff in general, especially for a left handed pitcher. Sits 92-95, sometimes a mile per hour above or below. According to Pitch Track, he threw a pitch over 101 mph, but it was also at Kansas City. They are notorious for hot guns.
After giving up a “bloop double” (just find a replay), he tried to throw out Martin at 3rd but Cabrera wasn’t covering. First and Third with no outs.
Phil Coke gave up a sac fly and an up the middle hit. Neither of them were really his fault. As the announcers noted, they Tigers had four defensive mistakes on five batters.
Coke is getting pulled, but he really didn’t turn in a bad performance. Evan Reed is replacing him. Reed was claimed off waivers from the Marlins. He used to be an above average prospect with a potentially plus slider, but that never developed. He sits 92-9 with an alright slider.
Ironically, Reed was originally drafted by Texas in the third round.
Almost a foul pole home run. Literally missed it by maybe two or three feet.
After a wild pitch, Reed gets Cruz to pop up to end the inning.
Tanner Scheppers in for Texas. Infante popped out to start the top of the eighth. Torii Hunter also grounded out to Andrus. Cabrera now batting.
Cabrera just hit his third home run of the game (!) and Scheppers walked fielder. Martinez swung on the first pitch and Scheppers is out of the inning with only the Cabrera dinger on the scoreboard.
Uneventful half inning for the Rangers. Nathan to close it down for the Rangers. Game Over.
Recap:
The Rangers struck blood in the second with the first runs of the game on a sacrifice fly by Mitch Moreland. The next half inning, Cabrera unleashed his first of three home runs, a three run shot that scored second baseban Omar Infante and right fielder Torii Hunter. The Rangers didn’t come back until the fifth, when they scored four runs on a groundout, a single and a double. They broke it open an inning later against middle reliever Jose Ortegam who through poor command and bad luck gave up a three run homer and a seeing eye double. Cabrera hit his third homer in the game in the eighth.
Obviously this is the extremely abridged version, but you can just read the full recap on the Rangers’ website. Texas wins it 11-8.