Tigers give away Tim Croll's 50+ pitching debut. Tiger bats started hot with 8 of the 9 batters seeing the plate in the first inning, but went cold stranding 11 runners thereafter. Dave Belaen and Jeff Wood picked up their first of many to come MSBL hits and Tim Croll and Jerry Carlisle going 2-3. Croll pitched all 6 inning striking out 11 and only giving up 2 hits. Tigers closed the night on winning notes taking the parking lot W and Klepto even made a return to the field to give back the taken keys so that the manager could go home.
The Tigers got their first victory of the season on a walk off hit by Mitch Katsuda in the bottom of the 4th inning. In typical MSBL fashion the first inning took at least an hour to complete as the Peckers sent 9 batters to the plate and put up 4 runs on 2 hits and then in the bottom half of the inning, the Tigers send 13 to the plate and put up 8 runs on 4 hits. The inning included a very tight zone and at least a 15 minute delay to figure out how to get the lights turned on. Kevin Tardivi turned into shortstop for the night and blasted a double to start the first inning fireworks for the Tigers. Glenn Triest was 2 for 2 and a BB and Pat Demers and Jeffrey Morcom get into the batting average column. Tom Borkowski got stuck on the mound for the “complete” game and got what was thought to be a first career win but was proven wrong in the parking lot, which the Tigers also took from the Peckers.
Glen Therrien calls a "put me in coach I'm ready to play" moment by requesting the start and fell one out short of going the distance for a Tiger victory, striking out 5 and only allowing 3 hits. Dan (where have you been) Konczal started the game by crushing the ball into the north head wind and ended up 2 for 3 with a double, 2 stolen bases and 3 runs scored. Dan and Ed Collins solidified the left side of the infield with numerous put outs.
Tigers drop a tough one to the Cubs in a slugfest where Dan Konczal got stuck with the start leaving the manager to wonder where the hell are all the regular pitchers! Dan went 6 and 2/3rds innings but the Tigers just couldn't get the final out allowing the Cubs to score 4 in the top of the 6th to go ahead by a run. Tigers loaded the bases in the bottom of the 6th but weren't able to drive one run across to salvage at least a kiss you sister game. Notable plate appearances were DiGiovanni (3/4), Balaen (3/4) with 2 stolen bases, Borkowski (3/3), Carlisle (2/3) with 3 RBIs and Morcom (2/3)
Tigers win a controversial one at Hazel Park even with the yellow cards abound and an injury delay.
Eddie Collins steals a win by helping out both with his pitching and hitting performances (3/3 with 3 RBIs and 4 relief innings only allowing 1 run). Controversy controlled the 7th inning which started after 11 pm and after the 2:15 mark with the home team Tigers leading by 2. As explained by the referee after the game, the extra time was added to the game due to the injury timeout to help the D'back's right fielder off after diving for a ball (hope he's ok). In the 7th, Collins struck out the first batter then Bob Hannon had to make a plate appearance to fill in for a player that left the game due to the late start and length of the game. Somehow Bob drew a walk but unfortunately with no courtesy runners left and no request made for a runner (either prior to the at bat or prior to just replacing him at first), a keen scorekeeper (maybe a Mihas in training) called timeout and the umpire now had to make a further controversial decision of who had to run. The explosion of explectives that ensued made it clear of who had to run and the next batter caused him to be out with on a fielders choice and then Collins finished the game by striking out the final batter, which was probably a blessing in disguise because Bob would have been the courtesy runner. Other game shout outs go to Glenn Thererien (2 stolen bases), Mitch Katsuda (2 stolen bases) and Kevin Curtis for their endless baserunning.
Tigers comeback gets derailed by two diving plays by the Cubs in the 7th inning.
Playing the early game at a steamy Brother Rice, the Tigers didn't wake up until the 4th inning when they scored 3 but allowed the Cubs to come back with 3 runs of their own. Going into the 7th the Tigers were down a couple when Kevin Curtis led off and sent a line shot which was amazingly caught by a diving Cubs shortstop. Next up was Collins who was already 3-3 on the day and pitched good enough to win except for a few unfortunate errors, but he was cut down with a looking K. With 2 out Glenn Triest singled to start the rally which was folllow with singles from Tardivi, Borkowski and Therrien (4 for 4 on the day) to make it based loaded and a hit puts the Tigers back in it. Jerry Carlisle hit it to the hole in the right side but a diving/sliding second baseman was able to knock it down and make the play at first to end the game. Another close but no cigar game that sooner or later will turn around so the Tigers can light them up.
The Tigers figure out a way to pull a team together and avoid a second straight forfeit but ultimately lose to the Pirates 14-7.
Returning from injury, Dan Konczal headed to the hill and pitched good but is still trying catch his breath from the squeezing by the plate umpire who helped attribute to a 7 run 3rd inning for the Pirates and the premature exit off the mound before actually getting the umpire’s heave-ho to go. The Tigers battled back in the 3rd for 5 runs with doubles Collins, Demers and Borkowski but couldn't create any further runs. Kevin Curtis also had a night and gave up swore off courtesy running by going 3-3. The Pirates right fielder ended the game with a double play starting with a diving catch on a screaming line drive from Borkowski who was quoted as saying never again do I intentionally hit it to right field. However, the best and most notable defensive play of the game, and probably a true baseball first, was the 6-4-4-6-3 double play perfectly drawn up by Croll and Konczal beforehand to end the 4th inning.
Tigers clinch a playoff spot (presuming enough show up for the final game Friday) by taking a double header from the Cubs.
Ed Collins gets the rare win for both games of a double header. Glenn Therrien call his start in game one and threw well but unfortunately didn't have the offensive support to earn the victory. Dan Konczal hits for the cycle and the other Tigers finally put on hitting shoes to rack up 25 runs in two games. Hopefully the hitting shoes and fielding gloves show up for the final regular season game on Friday.
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