At the time, I thought J.D. Martinez’s 5th inning at-bat was the the decision point of the game. He came up with a big two out hit that drove in two runs extending the Tigers lead to 5-2 after Miggy had struck out.
I thought Miggy’s subsequent sixth inning, two-run homer further extending the Tigers lead to 7-2 was insignificant, window dressing. For a brief, delusional, moment, I forgot what was lurking in the Tigers bullpen. They would need the additional runs.
Kyle Lobstein started and gave the Tigers a quality start plus. He gave up three runs in seven innings. Nesbitt came in for the the eighth and gave up two runs in one third of an inning but was bailed out by Blaine Hardy. Soria came in to close the ninth and was shaky. He gave up a run and was bailed out on a spectacular, back to the infield, basket catch, in shallow left field by Jose “Iggy” Iglesias. Iggy’s catch salvaged the game and the series. The Indians were coming and there was nobody to put out the fire.
I’ll take it.
I thought it was foolish to take the Lobber out after 86 pitches.. Need to stretch him out since JV isn’t coming back any time soon… Some hitters have become very pull happy over the past couple weeks – Miggy, JD, Cespedes to name a few…