Sunday, August 19, 2012

Tigers Blow Five-Run Lead, Pennant Race Slows to Crawl

 Pictorial representation of how the AL Central division race progressed this weekend.

The Tigers lost 7-5 today and dropped two of three in the series to the Orioles this weekend in a disappointing start to a nine-game home stand.  The Tigers jumped on Orioles starter Wei-Yen Chen for five runs in the first inning this afternoon.  The outburst was highlighted by a solo home run by second baseman Omar Infante and a three-run blast by shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

A five-run lead seemed like enough with the usually reliable Doug Fister on the mound.  The tall slim right hander had posted a 1.52 ERA in his previous seven starts allowing no more than three earned runs in any game.  Today, however, Mister Fister did not have it allowing seven runs on eight hits and an uncharacteristically high three walks. Not only that, but the Tigers bats went silent failing to score in the last eight innings of the game.

Fortunately, the Royals beat the White Sox this afternoon to complete a three-game game sweep of the division leaders.  So, the Tigers remained one and a half games back in a pennant race that has slowed to a crawl.

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