Tigers vs. nationals Spring Training March 18

[kalinecountry]

Great line by Leyland this morning about Delmon Young and his upcoming autumn free agency: "I like guys that are playing for groceries."

Austin Jackson: two drives to center today. One caught on a dive. Other a 400-foot SAC fly in 4th. He has been seriously stinging the ball.

henning

 

[lonesometiger]

It's amazing bases loaded, no outs

and Laird finds the pop up!!!!!

 

[kalinecountry]

Fister 4 innings 3 runs 1 earned 5 hits 1 walk 7 strikeouts,

Tigers lead 4 - 3.

 

[turok]

It's amazing bases loaded, no outs

and Laird finds the pop up!!!!!

I always have wondered why so many MLB-level catchers didn't maintain at least .250-ish or better BAs, since they call, see and must catch their pitchers' throws.

 

[turok]

Kelly 2 for 3, Leyland is a genius!!

 

[turok]

Dirks' rbi singles, Miggy scores, Tigers lead 5-3.

 

[kalinecountry]

Tigers 5th inning;

Cabrera singles to left,

Kelly lines a single to right,

Raburn k's,

Dirks singles to right and Cabrera scores and Kelly to third,

Tigers lead 5 - 3,

Peralta knocks in a run,?

Tigers lead 6 - 3,?

damn, Gameday is slow responding the past couple games,

 

[turok]

ZZZZZZzzzzzzz.....

 

[kalinecountry]

Tigers get five runs, four unearned, in fifth, and lead Nats 9-3.
Dirks (single), Laird (2B), Jackson (single), Thomas SAC fly, with RBIs.

 

[turok]

Laird has been productive today 2 for 3 with an RBI double, so I won't call him Lard, at least until after the regular season begins.

 

[kalinecountry]

Wind, sun, hard on Tigers and Nats today: 4 errors in the fifth, other near-gaffes.

 

[lonesometiger]

It's amazing bases loaded, no outs

and Laird finds the pop up!!!!!

I always have wondered why so many MLB-level catchers didn't maintain at least .250-ish or better BAs, since they call, see and must catch their pitchers' throws.

I agree and as I read Laird has somehow found a second hit a RBI DOUBLE and scored and is now now batting at .250 and the Tigers score 5 uns in the 5th and now lead 9 to3 !!!!!

 

[kalinecountry]

Below pitching in the 5th inning.

Duane Below allows pair of wind-aided doubles in fifth -- strikes out next three batters. Tigers 9, Nats 5.

 

[kalinecountry]

Defensive substitutions for Tigers with several of the 10 minor leaguers brought to the game;

Brent Wyatt replaces Jackson in center,
Danry Vasquez replaces Boesch in right,
Ryan Strieby replaces Kelly at first,
Brandon Douglas replaces Raburn at second,

 

[turok]

Tigers have the highest run differential in MLB so far this spring, and were at least 10 runs better than the next best team being the Jays. The Tigers also were second in fewest runs allowed to the Marlins. This game even though the Nats have snugged the score a bit to 9-5, after 5 innings, may only increase that lead, and perhaps vault them into first overall in RS as well.

 

[turok]

ex-Tiger RP Perry now on the mound, pitching for the Nats in the top 6th, and allows only a BB and Ked Strieby.

 

[turok]

Below pitching in the bottom 6th, immediately gives up a solo shot to leadoff batter Tyler Moore (who?)snugger 9-6. Duane struggling a bit giving up singles to Bernadina and ex- divisional rival Royal and White Sox' Mark Teahen, but gets out of the jam unscathed

 

[turok]

Clete!!

Solo homers himself in answer against Perry, 10-6 Tigers after 6 1/2.

 

[turok]

((((hellooo))))


Getting kinda sparsely populated here on the game thread.

 

[kalinecountry]

Bigger surprise: Clete Thomas making a bid for a roster spot with a spring HR, or hitting it off former Tigers RHP Ryan Perry? (or neither).
Clete Thomas-Andy Dirks battle entertains Tigers fans:
Dirks today 2-for-3, walk, RBI.
Thomas: walk, SAC fly, monster HR to right.