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MLB
The Angels came all the way back to complete a sweep of the Tigers at Comerica Park on Thursday. Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera had two hits and four RBIs early on to power Detroit to a 7-2 lead through two innings. By the end of five, they had gotten it out to a 10-2 lead thanks in part to solo shots from Jeimer Candelario and Willi Castro.
Then divine providence struck and the Angels came roaring back. Six runs in the sixth, one in the seventh, the back breaker a two-run shot from Max Stassi in the eighth off of Michael Fulmer, and by the time it was over LA won 13-10.
The sweep has to be considered the most disappointing series since the four-game rout in Minnesota right before the All-Star Break. The Tigs had great opportunities to win at least two of the games. Next up is this weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays at SkyDome. It’s the first time the former AL East foes have met this season. Tonight’s pitching matchup is not in the Tigers’ favor. Tyler Alexander is set to head a bullpen day for a unit that got knocked around some against the Angels. Toronto will start Robbie Ray, former Tiger for a cup of coffee or two.
The Brewers were looking at sweeping the Cardinals, but ran into mid-inning problems of their own. Down 4-1, the Red Birds got to work, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth. It looked like Brandon Woodruff was on cruise control, getting a lineout and strikeout after a leadoff single. Paul Goldschmidt singled followed by an RBI double from third sacker Nolan Arenado. Cardinal left fielder Tyler O’Neill put one out to the center field seats, plating three, and a second home run extended the lead. The final was 8-4 Cardinals.
Brett Anderson will be on the mound Friday night as the Brew Crew open up a three-game set against the rebuilding Washington Nationals in Milwaukee.
Longtime Tiger Bill Freehan has died at age 79, following a battle with dementia. The native Detroiter wore the Olde English D, and only the Olde English D, for 15 seasons. He made his debut at age 19. Between 1963 and 1976 he won five gold gloves and was an 11-time All Star. In 1967, Freehan caught an astounding 147 games as the Tigers came up just short of an American League pennant.
Of course the team rebounded in 1968 and Freehan was part of the pivotal out at home plate in Game Five that changed the course of the World Series. The Tigers were down 3-2, Lou Brock of St. Louis came home and didn’t slide leading to a tag at the plate that is controversial to this day. The Tigs came back to win 5-3 before taking the last two games on the road for a world championship.
