Recap: Can’t Score, Can’t Win

The Detroit Tigers came into the World Series this week boasting some fantastic starting pitching, something that could have easily carried them to a championship for the first time since 1984. With the exception of Justin Verlander‘s outing in game 1, that could hold very true.

Except that the Tigers have only scored 3 runs in 3 games of this series so far. And it’s put them in a 0-3 hole that is all but insurmountable.

The Tigers fell to the San Fransisco Giants tonight by a 2-0 final score, the same score they went down with 2 nights ago after a solid start from Doug Fister (a good outing despite the line drive that glanced off his head during his outing). Tonight, it was Anibal Sanchez, who suffered the loss thanks to a poor 2nd inning, with a run scoring Gregor Blanco triple accounting for the game winning run.

Prince Fielder (Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)

Yes, that’s right, game winning run, produced in the 2nd inning of tonight’s game. The anemic Tigers offense, fresh off a measly 2-hit effort in game 2, managed to scratch out only 5 hits tonight. The team did manage some life at 2 different stretches in the game, having 2 on and 1 out both times, only to hit into gut-wrenching, rally killing double plays, one by Prince Fielder and the other by Quintin Berry.

As for Fielder? Now batting .100 in the World Series. In addition to the GIDP, he struck out twice.

As for Sanchez, 7 innings, 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts, zero run support.

The Giants Ryan Vogelsong went 5 2/3, giving up all 5 hits the Tigers could muster, walking 4 and striking out 3. In addition to the lack of Tigers clutch hitting has been the stellar defense behind Giants pitching in this series. Well placed in the field, as the Tigers are continuously hitting the ball right at, or in the vicinity of the defense. And if you take away the late game error by Brandon Crawford at shortstop, which had no ill effect, then it’s been a rather flawless series for the Giants as a whole.

The Tigers will attempt to salvage this series tomorrow night. Game 4, Max Scherzer vs. Matt Cain. The team will attempt to score a run for the first time since the 9th inning of game 1.

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Follow me on Twitter, @DisplacedTgrFan.

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