For a while it looked like the Tigers would lose their 3rd straight at home. In fact, after Hunter, Cabrera and Fielder went in order in the bottom of the 8th, a third straight loss looked all but certain. BUT, in the bottom of the 9th Victor Martinez lead off with a walk and up walked Jhonny Peralta.
With the count 1 and 2 Peralta sent an Andrew Bailey slider over the fence in left field giving the Tigers a 4-3 walk-off win, their first of the season. In a post game interview Peralta said he was looking for the slider. He got it. He didn’t miss it. The Tigers won.
Here are some thoughts:
Cabrera went 1 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. It seems to me, that after being walked so much the last few weeks, Miggy has expanded his strike zone and perhaps trying just a little to hard. He’s struggling just a bit; I guess as much as a .359 hitter can be “struggling”.
Torii Hunter had a much needed clutch hit to drive in two and tie the game in the bottom of the 5th. The Tigers have needed a clutch hit recently, Hunter got it.
Jose Alvarez had another strong, spot start filling in for Sanchez. He faced the American League’s best offense, went 5 innings, giving up two earned, striking out three and walking two.
The bullpen looked pretty good too, with the exception of Phil Coke. Luke Putkonen pitched a strong, scoreless, inning and a third and Drew Smyly was brilliant again cleaning up Phil Coke’s mess.
Coke struck out Ellsbury to end the seventh but came out in the 8th and couldn’t find the strike zone. He walked Victorino and Pedroia on eight pitches. David Ortiz singled, driving in Victorino, giving the Red Sox a 3-2 lead.
Drew Smyly replaced Coke and was lights out. With no outs, Pedroia on second and Ortiz on first, Smyly struck out Napoli and got Gomes to pop out to third. After hitting Lavarnway to load the bases, Smyly got Middlebrooks to fly out to Torii Hunter in right, ending the inning, limiting the damage to one run, and essentially setting up Peralta’s heroics in the bottom of the 9th.
The more I see of Smyly the more I agree with Nebraskaknows, Smyly could be the answer to the closer problem.
The Tigers have started this four game series with the Sox on the right track. Let’s hope it ends better than the Baltimore series.
“God, I love baseball.” – Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Flashin' Leather 
Couple things….I think you are spot on RE: Cabrera now how you tell a defending triple crown winner to slow down and take more walks is a situation I need to ponder. If one reads the Sox press Bailey and Valverde are twin brothers John Farrell says in print that it is time for a change so………..two teams with one problem. I watched the Tigers walk off after the last loss looking so beat it scared me. Regardless what JL says about the next day & turning the page the closer situation could crush EITHER teams head. Big win and maybe a bigger series than we realize for both teams. (It helps if the hitter thinks you are a little crazy) Nolan Ryan-1980
“the closer situation could crush EITHER teams head” – ABSOLUTELY!!! I’m liking your Smyly for closer idea more and more. I think he at least deserves a shot! The Tigers were willing to hand the spot to an unproven rookie, well, Smyly is not a rookie and he has been impressive!!!!!!!!!! Tigers need to follow it up tonight!
One more thing, Andrew Bailey was a lights out closer that Billy Beane didn’t lose any sleep over losing. Maybe he’s on to something?
http://flashinleather.mlblogs.com/2013/06/18/tigers-start-homestand-with-win-over-the-os/
I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’
Ding dong the which is dead Valverde……….DFA…..tonight’s press conference should be fun!
So I was a day early. I didn’t think he’d be on the roster yesterday morning.
From what I read on MLB, Valverde seems to be handling it with class, http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130621&content_id=51342078&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
I have nothing against Valverde and never booed him.(Take that for what it is worth. I generally don’t boo any player. I figure, they aren’t trying to suck, but I digress.) He just didn’t seem to be able to get people out anymore.
Thanks for the update Nebraska! You’re aces!
I have something against Valverde and Coke. But only because they suck.
LOL! Good point! But I do feel bad for guys that struggle. I’m sure they feel worse than we do!