Saturday, September 7, 2013

2012 World Series Replay - Game 7


The Detroit Tigers erupted for 6 runs in the 2nd Inning of Game 6, to even up the series with the G-Men. The Giants at one point led the series 2-0, and a 3-2 series lead after a convincing Game 5 victory with Barry Zito (once again) defeating Justin Verlander.

So now it all comes down to this, the final deciding game here in San Francisco.

GAME 7
at AT&T Park / San Francisco

STARTING LINEUPS


DETROIT TIGERS - Fielding 2 (39)
1. Austin Jackson -CF
.115 AVG, 3/26, 2 HR, 3 RBI
2. Andy Dirks - RF
.280 AVG, 7/25, 1 HR, 4 RBI
3. Miguel Cabrera - 3B
.200 AVG, 5/25, 1 HR, 2 RBI
4. Prince Fielder - 1B
.300 AVG, 6/20, 0 HR, 2 RBI
5. Delmon Young - LF
.087 AVG, 2/23, 1 HR, 2 RBI
6. Omar Infante - 2B
.130 AVG, 3/23, 1 HR, 4 RBI
7. Jhonny Peralta - SS
.250 AVG, 5/20, 0 HR, 0 RBI
8. Gerald Laird - C
.267 AVG, 4/15, 0 HR, 4 RBI
9. Max Scherzer - SP
.000 AVG, 0/0, 0 HR, 0 RBI

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS - Fielding 2 (38)
1. Angel Pagan - CF
.370 AVG, 10/27, 1 HR, 4 RBI
2. Brandon Belt - 1B
.300 AVG, 6/20, 0 HR, 2 RBI
(3 BB's in Game 6)
3. Pablo Sandoval - 3B
.217 AVG, 5/23, 0 HR, 23 RBI
4. Buster Posey - C
.273 AVG, 6/22, 0 HR, 1 RBI
5. Hunter Pence - RF
.143 AVG, 3/21, 0 HR, 1 RBI
6. Marco Scutaro - 2B
.185 AVG, 5/27, 0 HR, 1 RBI
7. Ryan Theriot - LF
.200 AVG, 2/10, 0 HR, 1 RBI
8. Brandon Crawford - SS
.125 AVG, 2/16, 0 HR, 2 RBI
9. Matt Cain - SP
.000 AVG, 0/0, 0 HR, 0 RBI

The Detroit Tigers decide to go with the same lineup that led them to success in Game 6, Jim Leyland was leaning toward Quintin Berry (.375 AVG in 8 AB's) compared to Delmon Young who was struggling, but didn't want to take Andy Dirks out of the #2 slot (which Berry is best suited). Berry instead will be a possible weapon off the bench.

For the Giants, Marco Scutaro has been struggling, and Brandon Belt was getting on base far more than Scutaro this series, so Belt will bat in the 2nd spot of the batting order, moving Scutaro into Belt's slot. Belt drew 3 walks last game, 4 walks & a hit-by-pitch plus his .300 batting average -- compared to Scutaro's five hits & one intentional walk (Game 2). 

STARTING PITCHERS

  • Max Scherzer (DET): 0-0, 3.86 ERA, 4 K & 4 BB's in 7 IP.
  • Matt Cain (SF): 0-1, 6.14 ERA, 4 K & 4 BB in 7.1 IP.
Bottom of the 3rd
After two & a half uneventful innings, the Giants started to go to work in the 3rd with a one-out single by the Giants' starting pitcher Matt Cain. Angel Pagan steps up to the plate with a productive series (batting .370), and laces a single to right, advancing Cain to third, runners on 1st & 3rd. Pagan would steal second base on Laird's arm, runners on 2nd & 3rd. Max Scherzer gets set to pitches, hesitates, the ump throws his hands up -- BALK! Matt Cain would advance home, as Pagan goes to third. Scherzer can't believe it, Leyland is in the dugout shaking his head. Brandon Belt hits a deep fly, this will be enough to advance Pagan. Pablo Sandoval would fly out for the final out of the 3rd. Giants 2, Tigers 0

Top of the 4th
Austin Jackson leads off with a double, bringing up Andy Dirks. Leyland wanted to keep Dirks productive bat in the lineup and in the #2 slot, if possible -- that is why the struggling (and not to mention, defensive liability) Delmon Young is still in the lineup. Dirks would fly out for out number one. The Giants' Matt Cain will have to be careful pitching to Miguel Cabrera. The unfortunate thing for Cain, he wasn't careful enough as Cabrera sends this one into the stands (just in front of the Coca-Cola bottle) in left field, that's his 2nd HR & 4th RBI of the series, although he's been rather quiet during the Fall Classic. Prince Fielder would fly out, as Young would go on and strike out. Giants 2, Tigers 2

Bottom of the 4th
Buster Posey who has overall struggled this series, brought his average up the last two games to .273 -- will face off against Max Scherzer. Scherzer tries to throw it past him, but Posey got all of this one as he sends this ball into the bay over McCovey's Cove; Big moment for Posey to step up, he seems to have a knack for that, ask the Cincinnati Reds on that one. The Giants are now up by a run, and the struggling Hunter Pence steps up to the plate, what an addition he has been for the Giants during this championship run, him & the addition of Marco Scutaro as well -- unfortunately both cooled off for this series. Pence was badly fooled by a breaking ball, he will go down watching strike three. Scutaro swings on the first pitch, and sends this one to the gap. Ryan Theriot playing LF for the hitless Gregor Blanco (0-for-19), grounds it to deep second, the only play is at first, as Scutaro advances to third base. Brandon Crawford, who has 2 RBI despite batting .125, has another runner in scoring position... but Scherzer sends him packing, strike three, inning over; Scherzer has 6 K's. Giants 3, Tigers 2

Top of the 5th
Omar Infante batting 6th, once again for the Tigers after some Game 6 success, ends up grounding to third, Sandoval throws it to first, one out. Jhonny Peralta's bat momentarily woke up as well in Game 6, but flies to left for out number two. Gerald Laird has been doing most of the catching behind the plate as of late, since he has been delivering at the plate (4 RBI's in the World Series), and because Alex Avila has been all banged up. It would end up being a 1-2-3 inning for Matt Cain, as Laird would ground to short. Cain's only mistake at this point has been his two-run HR to the Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera.

Bottom of the 5th
Matt Cain leads off with his 2nd single of the day, talk about helping your own cause. Angel Pagan laces a looper over first, in between Fielder & the right fielder Andy Dirks, as Pagan races to 2nd, Cain holds third; Tigers can't seem to figure out Pagan, as Pagan collects his 12th hit of the series! Brandon Belt hitting in the 2nd slot (instead of Scutaro) steps up to the plate and smacks a single over Cabrera's head into left, Young fields it, but there will be no play at home as Cain scores easily, Pagan advances to third. 

Runners on first and third, no outs -- Bruce Bochy's lineup move prior to this game seems to be paying off as Belt has 2 RBI already in this one. "Kung Fu Panda" Pablo Sandoval, a crowd favorite would end up hitting into a double play, but it would be a productive one, as Pagan scores from third. Max Scherzer's pitch count went up considerably in this inning, he's trying to at least get out of this inning as the Tigers' bullpen has arms up and throwing -- appears to be Octavio Dotel and Brayan Villarreal. Posey steps up, and hits a single to left center as fields it up cleanly. The Giants fans are hoping to see Hunter Pence snap out of this slump, they'll have to keep on waiting for that moment as Scherzer stops the bleeding with his 7th strike out of the night.
After five full innings: Giants 5, Tigers 2

Top of the 6th
Not surprisingly, Jim Leyland will go to the bench to have someone pinch-hit for the starting pitcher Max Scherzer; Scherzer's line for the night: 8 hits, 5 runs & one walked allowed in 5 innings, while striking out 7 Giants. Scherzer was lucky to get out of the 5th, Leyland is looking for a spark, he'll go with Brennan Boesch. Boesch's playing time has become limited, he's a bit streaky -- batting .240 for the season, with 12 HR's & 54 RBI (and a career low .659 OPS), we'll see what he can do against Matt Cain. Boesch smacks this one to right, it's carrying, Pence is racing to the wall, he's not going to get to this one... Leyland elected to go with the low-average pop guy, instead of the hot hitting of Quintin Berry to get things rolling. The Giants have pitchers warming up just in case.

Austin Jackson steps up to the plate, and Cain suddenly can't find the strike zone, as he walks Austin Jackson. Andy Dirks represents the tying run at the plate, singles to right, runner to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd for Miguel Cabrera, no outs. The Giants' pitching coach comes out and wants to discuss things over with the players, plus they may be giving the bullpen more time to loosen their arms up. Everyone returns to their positions as Cabrera steps back into the batter's box. Cabrera laces a line drive over Crawford's head, Jackson scores, Dirks advances to 2nd. It's suddenly a one-run game, Tigers trailing 5-4. 

Prince Fielder starts to approach the batter's box now, while Bruce Bochy comes out of the dugout, signals to the bullpen, it's going to be Jeremy Affeldt, the left-hander to counter Fielder's bat. Fielder has flown out twice, he entered the game with a .300 average, but has no HR's to show for. Affeldt loses the count, walks Fielder, loading up the bases, and still no outs. Matt Cain can only sit and watch from the dugout, as he hit a wall here in the 6th, in complete control the first five innings, as AT&T Park has gone quiet. Delmon Young has some pop, but has done close to nothing in this series, he would hit a fly to center, Pagan catches it, but it was deep enough to score in the tying run, a sacrifice fly for Young. Omar Infante steps up to the plate, he got things rolling in Game 6's six-run 2nd inning explosion with a two-run HR off of Madison Bumgarner. Infante hits a single to right, and Cabrera will score the go-ahead run. Bochy comes back out and signals for another reliever, they will rely on Santiago Casilla to get them through this nightmare of an inning. Jhonny Peralta gets up & whiffs, strike out for Casilla. Tigers 6, Giants 5

Bottom of the 6th
Octavio Dotel comes in allowing only 1 ER in 4 2/3 innings for the Tigers, during the World Series, he has done well for the most part in protecting a lead for Detroit. He would go on and walk Ryan Theriot, but nothing more would come from it.

Top of the 7th
The Giants bring in reliever George Kontos (APBA A-X) in an attempt to keep the Giants in this one, they are only one run down, and just had a 5-2 lead, a couple innings ago. The Tigers would get a single from Gerald Laird and a two-out walk for Andy Dirks, bringing up Miguel Cabrera; Cabrera would fly out to end the threat though.

Bottom of the 7th
The Tigers take their chances with Brayan Villarreal (45.00 ERA), who has allowed 5 ER's in a total of an inning, during two appearances this series. What an interesting time for Leyland to put the young pitcher in, a one-run lead on enemy turf, just after the 7th Inning stretch. Plus he will have to face Angel Pagan (.400 BA, 12-for-30), who has been the Giants' consistent force in this series. Villarreal delivers, Pagan singles to right, there are no answers for this guy, he's seeing everything right now. Brandon Belt steps up to the plate, but Villarreal answers back by striking Belt out. Pablo Sandoval steps up to the plate (batting .192, 5-for-26), he hits it to Jhonny Peralta, and... Peralta bobbles the grounder, picks it up and is late on the throw to first, Sandoval is on, with an error by Peralta, on a play that looked routine. Jim Leyland sends Jeff Jones out to the mound to discuss strategy, he may be buying the bullpen some time, or just settling down Villarreal after what appeared to be a routine out -- not sure, if Peralta may have been thinking about doubling up Pagan at second, took his eye & mind off the ball. We'll see if this is the break the Giants are looking for, as the crowd is back into this one. Jeff Jones returns to the dugout, Buster Posey steps up to the plate, Laird stands up and puts his glove out to his right, Leyland has elected to intentionally walk Posey (who is 2-for-3 in this one, with his 4th Inning HR off Scherzer) -- I don't blame Leyland on this one, Posey trots down to first.

This will also be it for Villarreal as Leyland comes out to the mound, and gets the ball from Villarreal. Bases loaded, one out. The Tigers will have to go to Joaquin Benoit, a little bit earlier than they would have liked and it's likely if he succeeds on getting through this mess, that he will also have to hold down the 8th inning for the mystery man of the hour Jose Valverde. We all know Leyland does not like to pitch Benoit or most of his relievers on the most part beyond two innings, so things are starting to shape up to an interesting and nerve-wrecking finish for both teams. Bruce Bochy continues to keep faith in his key mid-season acquisition
Hunter Pence. Pence smacks this one hard to Peralta, Peralta flips to Infante for one, Infante to Fielder and they get Pence by a step, double play, inning over! Tigers 6, Giants 5

Top of the 8th
George Kontos will stay on the mound for the Giants, in case this ends up getting tied and going to extras, they are going to shoot for two innings most likely. Prince Fielder would fly out to right. Leyland goes to the bench for Delmon Young, bringing in a defensive upgrade with Quintin Berry, who has also been batting better than Young, Berry was a last-minute scratch from the starting lineup; Berry would single off Kontos, putting some speed on the base paths (Berry was a perfect 21-for-21 in steals during the regular season). Kontos ends up walking both Omar Infante & Jhonny Peralta, loading the bases -- Bochy is pacing the dugout, decisions... decisions, Bochy stays with Kontos. Gerald Laird hits it to Crawford, Crawford flips to it to second to Scutaro for one, Scutaro to Belt... not in time, and Berry scores for a much-needed insurance run. Jim Leyland wants Joaquin Benoit's arm for the 8th, so he sends Benoit to the plate. Benoit looks totally mismatched up there, as he goes down with a comical at-bat of a strikeout -- Benoit is even smiling about it. Tigers 7, Giants 5

Bottom of the 8th
Marco Scutaro who benefited from the 6th spot by hitting a double earlier, steps up to the plate and grounds out to Infante at second. Joaquin Benoit would overmatch Ryan Theriot and Brandon Crawford by striking them both out -- The Giants are starting to run out of time, and the fans are starting to feel it.

Top of the 9th
We go to the top of the Tigers' lineup in Austin Jackson, Andy Dirks, and Miguel Cabrera. They will face the new reliever Jose Mijares, who has only allowed an earned run in 5 innings (1.80 ERA) during the Fall Classic. Jackson grounds out to short for the first out, bringing up Andy Dirks. Dirks has had a productive series (.286 BA, 8-for-28), has a single, bases on balls & a run in this decisive Game 7; Dirks can't keep up with Mijares fastball and goes down swinging. Miguel Cabrera steps up the the box, having his best game of the series, 2-for-4, a HR & 3 RBI -- He hits a deep fly and then it just died out there as it falls into Theriot's glove for the third out.

Bottom of the 9th
Just as predicted, Leyland decides to have Jose Valverde go to the mound for the 9th, in an attempt to close down the game (he was successful in Game 4). Valverde has had a roller coaster of a regular season & post season here in 2012, compared to his perfect 49 saves in 49 chances in 2011; placing him 5th in the A.L. Cy Young voting. The Giants send up Hector Sanchez as the pinch-hitter for the pitcher Jose Mijares; Sanchez is batting .300 in ten World Series at-bats, along with 3 RBI. Sanchez hits this one deep to right, Valverde spins around, as Dirks catches it before the track. Angel Pagan steps up, Valverde will have to be careful, Pagan finds his pitch and smacks this one into center -- Pagan's fourth hit of the ballgame! The Giants could be in business, one out & a man on first. Brandon Belt steps up, he's one for three in this one, with a sac fly & RBI single -- striking out twice. Belt hits this one to deep short, Peralta only has a play at first, Pagan advances safely to second base. Two outs, and Pablo Sandoval represents the tying run; Sandoval has been disappointing this series (.185 BA, 5-for-27), but had the walk-off single in that wild Game 2 -- so he has played the hero before. The Giants fans are on their feets, fans with their hands to their mouths, praying for something good to come out of this -- The pitch, it's hit out to left, but this won't go far, Berry catches it! Detroit, you have your first title since the roar of 84', you can now BLESS THESE BOYS! The Tigers are now World Champions! The Tigers are running onto the field and celebrating on the mound, in front of a stunned park in San Francisco.

What a series, the Giants appeared to have everything going for them after the first two games, and they ended up getting a big win against Justin Verlander in Game 5 to take a key 3-2 series lead -- yet the Tigers kept clawing back. The Tigers offense woke up in Game 6 in which the Tigers scored 6 runs in the second inning, and two more in the 3rd for a shocking 8-0 lead -- which in many ways may have sent this Giants team into some sort of shock pattern. The Tigers once again had their backs to the wall, down 5-2 after 5 innings in this one, in a game that Matt Cain seemed to have in complete control, and then the wheels came off, the Tigers fought back, took the lead & Jose Valverde of all people, closes it out for the Tigers' first World Championship since 1984. The Detroit fans couldn't be more happier, and the Tigers couldn't be more pleased to send their fans, who have endured so much during these tough economic times, much needed joy & celebration.

FINAL SCORE                                               R     H     E
DETROIT                                       7    8    1
SAN FRANCISCO                         5   10   0    F
WP- Scherzer / LP- Cain / SV- Valverde

POST-GAME:

  • Miguel Cabrera (DET): 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 runs
  • Austin Jackson (DET): 1-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 runs
  • Brennan Boesch (DET): Pinch-hit solo HR.
  • Angel Pagan (SF): 4-for-5, 2B, SB & 2 runs.
  • Buster Posey (SF): 2-for-3, solo HR, intentional walk.
  • Matt Cain (SF): 2 hits & 2 runs at the plate, strong (2 ER's) through first five innings, allows four runs in 6th Inning.
  • Jose Valverde (DET): 2nd Save of series.
WORLD SERIES MVP - Andy Dirks (DET): .276 AVG, HR & 4 RBI (8-for-29) -- It was Dirks' three-run HR that capped off the 6-run 2nd inning in Game 6 & overall consistent series play, the Tigers lineup wasn't lighting up the board, but Dirks with Laird are big reasons the Tigers pulled off this comeback of a series.

Honorable mention: Gerald Laird also had a good series with a .278 AVG & 5 RBI's (18 AB's).

Angel Pagan (SF): .438 AVG, HR, 6 RBI (14-for-32). A possible clear-cut winner if the Giants pulled it out, he may have had to possibly share it with Barry Zito who was 2-0 in the series, and posted a 0.69 ERA in 13 innings.




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