Dan Dickerson Recaps The Tigers 4-1 Win Over The Orioles [AUDIO]
By: Dan Dickerson
@Dan_Dickerson
There are certain games that produce great moments, moments you appreciate just for the situation - say, Miguel Cabrera against a closer in the 9th, with two on, two outs, and the Tigers down a run. And then that moment becomes a lasting memory when Cabrera comes through, like he did last night: Miguel Cabrera hit a two out, three run home run in the 9th, and the Tigers stunned the Baltimore Orioles with a 4-1 win.
The ninth had a little bit of everything: facing an overshift, Alex Avila led off the inning by hitting a ground ball down the third base line for a single. Rajai Davis pinch-ran at 1B. Don Kelly pinch-hit for Andrew Romine. Davis took off for 2nd - and was called out. But Brad Ausmus challenged, and the call - oh, so close - was overturned, and Davis was safe. But Kelly lined out, Kinsler lined out, and it was up to Torii Hunter to keep the inning going. Against closer Tommy Hunter, Hunter fell behind 1-2, but fouled off a tough 97MPH fastball down and away to extend the at bat, then worked Hunter for a walk, bringing up Cabrera. And on the second pitch he saw, Cabrera launched a ball deep to left center that just carried the fence over the glove of a leaping David Lough, and the Tigers had the lead, 3-1. Victor Martinez followed with an even longer HR to right field, his 9th, and the Tigers had a 4-1 lead. Joe Nathan then closed the game out.
Drew Smyly started - and was good. Six innings, one run, seven strikeouts. Justin Miller bridged the gap to Nathan nicely with two scoreless innings. The Tigers go for a sweep of the series this afternoon - Justin Verlander vs. Keven Gausman.
Listen below to Miguel Cabrera's 3-run HR
Miguel Cabrera 3-run HR
Listen below to Victor Martinez's solo HR
