I usually don’t like to say that
an umpire caused a loss but yesterday a catch, ruled a drop directly led to the
Tigers winning 7-5 on Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park.
With the game dead locked at 4,
Avisail Garcia led off the bottom of the eighth with a deep fly ball that took
Daniel Nava back to wall. Nava drifted
back, settled under it and looked like he made the catch. As he reached to his glove to throw the ball
back in, the ball squirted out and second-base umpire Mike DiMuro ruled that he
dropped it.
I saw the play in question and to
me it looked like it was on the transfer.
The umpires did get together but still ruled it a drop and I can’t see
how they did it. I’m for instant replay
and this is one of those instances where if you looked at the video it could have
easily been corrected. When will Major
League baseball get replay? It needs to
happen!
John Farrell was ejected for
arguing and he had a point. It was his
first ejection of the season. How 3
umpires didn’t see that it was on the transfer baffles me.
Things predictably got worse
after that as Andrew Miller pulled Pedroia off the bag with a throw to first on
a Holaday sacrifice bunt attempt. Miller
then walked Jackson to load the bases and Alex Wilson came on to relieve
Miller. Torii Hunter then hit a sacrifice
fly to plate a run and after an intentional walk to Miguel Cabrera, Craig
Breslow came on and Prince Fielder plated 2 more with a single up the
middle. Breslow would get Victor
Martinez to ground into the inning ending double-play but by then it was
over. 3 runs that probably shouldn’t
have happened.
Felix Doubront started for the
Sox and wasn’t sharp. He was back to his
normal ways only pitching 5 innings and throwing 104 pitches. He walked 4 and struck out 2 while giving up
3 runs (only 2 were earned) on 4 hits.
He didn’t have much command on his fastball and got into some deep
counts with a lot of hitters.
Opposing starter, Justin
Verlander wasn’t much better. He went
only 5 innings as well throwing 112 pitches.
The Sox got to him for 4 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks. Too bad the Sox couldn’t hold the lead as the
offense did their job against the tough righty.
Junichi Tazawa pitched an inning
of no run baseball but Andrew Bailey couldn’t do the same. Bailey went 1/3 of an inning giving up 2 hits
and 1 run. He was replaced by Miller but
by then the game was tied. Bailey just
can’t find it right now.
Offensively the Sox banged out 12
hits but again didn’t hit with runners in scoring position. They were 2 for 14 and left 11 men on
base. This game shouldn’t have even been
close but the Sox continue to struggle hitting with runners in scoring position.
Ellsbury went 2 for 4 with an RBI
and his 32nd stolen base of the year. Pedroia and Ortiz both had 3 hits with
Pedroia getting on base 4 times. Mike
Napoli and Jonny Gomes both had 1 hit and 1 RBI and Stephen Drew chipped in with
a 1 for 4 day and a walk.
Ryan Lavarnway went 1 for 3 with
an RBI and walk as well. The only 2 Sox
starters without a hit were Shane Victorino (0 for 4 with an RBI) and Jose
Iglesias (0 for 3 with a HBP.).
It was a tough loss and tough
series for the Sox were they lost 3 of 4 and probably should have won 3 of
4. They’ll get a much needed day off
before coming home for a 9 game home stand that begins with Colorado on
Tuesday.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Dustin Pedroia. Pedey was on base 4 time (3 hits and a walk)
and seems to be coming out of the little slump he’s been in.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Andrew Bailey. Bailey can’t even do middle relief well.
PLAY OF THE GAME
The catch/drop by Nava in the
eighth that changed the direction of the game.
NEXT
Tuesday at home vs. the Colorado
Rockies.
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