Tangerine Tabbies Take Two-fer

GAME 1: Tigers 9, Twins 2

In the first innings, Game 1 was an odd sort of pitchers duel for the 20 or 30 fans that showed up for it. Pat Dean threw five good innings, only giving up a run in the first. Anibal Sanchez had a similar day on the other side, giving up a home run to Brian Dozier in the bottom half of the first. That homer, was Brian's 42nd of the year, 40th as a second baseman, setting the AL record.

Top of the 7th, Wimmers got behind in the count to Justin Upton and Upton made him pay for it with a solo HR to left center field. Twins would load the bases in the bottom half, but came up empty handed.

Tigers added another run off of a sac fly by Jose Iglesias in the 8th and the Twins got one back when Jorge Polanco doubled, scoring Byron Buxton.

The game was still in reach going into the 9th, then all Hell circus baseball broke loose. Two lead-off walks by Pat Light, then a wild pitch on an intentional walk. Michael Tonkin came in so he could give up a 3-run homer to pinch-hitter, V. Mart. A couple more walks, singles and wild pitches later, the Tigers were up 9-2 and that's where things stayed.

W: Wilson (4-0)

L: Wimmers  (1-3)

Sanchez, 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Dean, 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

STUDS:

Dozier, HR #42, new AL record for single season HR by a 2B

Dean, 5 gosh-darned good innings

Polanco, 2 for 4, RBI double

DUDS:

Light, 2 WP, 3 ER, 3 BB

Tonkin, WP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB

Vargas 0 for 4

Kepler 0 for 4

----------------------------------------------------

GAME 2: Tigers 4, Twins 2

Ervin Santana struck out the first three batters he faced, which looked promising. He gave up a lead-off single in the 2nd, then walked in the next three batters, which if you're counting along, means he walked in a run. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a sac fly to score another run. Ervin was able to get the next two batters to fly out but it was 2-0 Tigers.

Juan Centeno hit a lone homer off of Justin Verlander in the bottom of the 3rd to make it 2-1 Tigers.

Twins threatened to score in the 4th, loading the bases but Verlander struck out 10 Cent this time to end it. You win some at bats, you lose some.

Byron Buxton hit a solo HR to right center field to tie it up in the bottom of the 5th.

Top of the 6th, circus baseball made a guest appearance. Justin Upton got on second base after Brian Dozier tossed a ball into the Twins dugout. Upton would score on an Erick Aybar single to center field when no one cut off the relay. Another wild pitch followed by a passed ball between Centeno's legs let Aybar scamper home.

Next inning, Jose Iglesias hit a ball into the right field corner, Max Kepler couldn't get a handle on it hit his noggin on the wall in the process and Iglesias was in with a double. Eduardo Escobar was there to save the day with an amazing catch and a force out at 3rd to end the inning and the Tigers' threat.

But that was all the Tigers needed to win their 11th game in a row at Target Field, 4-2.

W: Verlander, (15-8) 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 11 K

L: Santana, (7-11) 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K

SV: Rodriguez (44)

STUDS:

Santana, A shaky "quality start" but 8 Ks so WTH

Chargois, 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 K

Rogers, 1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 K

DUDS:

Dozier :'( 0 for 4, 2 K, throwing error

Kepler 0 for 3, 2 K, fielding error

Most Twins were more duddy than studdy it seemed

• Dozier's 24-game hitting streak came to an end
• Instead of playing spoilers the Twins have put the Tigers in charge of their own destiny for a Wild Card. So I guess they were enablers instead.
• Kepler left the game with what they are calling a "mild neck strain." RIP Max
• Twins have lost every home game versus the Tigers this season

ROBOT ROLL CALL!

#	Commenter	# Comments
1	less cows, more hat	51
2	James Fillmore	50
3	SooFoo Fan	44
4	WestRiverTwinsFan	39
5	Brandon Brooks	34
6	Joel Hernandez	19
7	Daniel Carlson	18
8	SaintAugustine	5
9	BeefMaster	4
10	TawnyFroggy	3
11	Gunnarthor	3
12	myjah	3
13	Imakesandwichesforaliving	2
14	Devereaux	1
15	The Ham Sandwich	1

Comment of the Gamethread(s): SooFoo Fan with the classic Infielders in the Outfield pic