By: Trevor Hooth
At what point can we call the Detroit Tigers the “Cardiac Cats” of baseball? They never say die, and no deficit is too much for them to make a game out of.
Zack Greinke was throwing a gem until the sixth inning, allowing only two hits. Meanwhile, his offensive exploded for a 6-0 lead off Tigers starter Buck Farmer. But when it rains, it pours, because the Motown offense scored six runs to tie the game. All runs were unearned.
It took an error from Diamondback second baseman Brandon Drury to create the spark for the Detroit Tigers lineup. Whatever the case, it made a blowout a real game again.
What is even more bizarre is that a pitcher who has proven himself to be a blowout pitcher came in during a tie game. Francisco Rodriguez relieved for Chad Bell in the seventh inning.
After complaining about his manager Brad Ausmus for only using him in mop-up roles, seeing Rodriguez pitch at all is a surprising move. That type of behavior should not be rewarded in a Major League capacity.
Either way, Rodriguez got the opportunity to show what he is worth. His first batter was a heck of a test: Paul Goldschmidt. With an inherited runner on second base. He got the slugger to a 1-2 count. The at-bat ended with a changeup, low and outside, that Goldschmidt swung right over the top of.
The inning ended for K-Rod after facing three batters. In total, it was a strikeout, a ground out, and a fly out. It was his only inning of work.
Now, one good inning of work will not erase the rest of this year. There was a reason he was used in a mop-up role. However, it is nice to see he can follow through when speaks out about his role.
It shows the competitiveness that once made him a dominant force at the back of a bullpen. Things may be looking up for the veteran pitcher.
It was Alex Wilson who took over in the eigth inning. After loading up the bases he was able to escape with the help of a 3-2-3 double play and a flyout.
The other Wilson brother did not have such luck. He was tasked with ninth inning where he gave up a home run, and eventually took the loss as the Detroit Tigers fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6.
Trevor Hooth is from Farmington, Connecticut. He is a senior Communication major at Millikin University, where also plays baseball.
