Game 1 Recap

Well, it isn’t heartwarming to have this much fight when you start Strider. Most people think his fastball has dipped a little and the results certainly show something.

3 straight outs to start the game and then Spencer Torkelson launches one in the bottom half. Starting off behind against a bad team. Does that sound familiar? Then, a single in top of 2 followed by 3 runs (home runs by some guy named Miguel Cabrera and another Eric Haase).

Top of 3 the lineup got to Michael Harris, II and he got a single. He was the biggest positive theme in this one. 4 for 4 with 3 runs scored and 4 Runs batted in. If he gets going, that covers a lot of slack. Then, Ronald Acuna, Jr. did that long fly ball in fair territory and it was 4 to 2.

Strider got 3 straight outs in bottom of 3 and the offense went back to work in top of 4. Or maybe Detroit decided to play like Detroit. With 2 on from walks, Orlando Arcia singled in one. Then Kevin Pillar reached on a fielding error with a run scoring. Then Money Mike doubled in 2 and it was 6 to 4.

Strider got through bottom of 4 with one single and one wild pitch. No runs. The Braves went quietly in the top of 5. Bottom of 5 Strider gave up 1, “made himself eligible for the ‘win’,” and his day was through. Then, Braves again go quietly in the 6th. Jesse Chavez came in to pitch and on his 4th pitch, took a liner off of the left leg just below the knee. It looked bad. Like maybe a broken tibia. Kirby Yates came in and got 3 outs. Then, Money Mike hit a home run oppo. A. J. Minter came in and got the post stretch half inning with two outs, a single, and then an out, so no runs. A quite needed continuation of a little better level of play. Then the Braves in top of 8 have walk, walk, pop up, single (by Harris, again), and extend to 10 to 5. But everybody needed some anxiety, right?

Nick Anderson gave up only 1 in the 8th, somehow. And then Raisel Iglesias once again failed to show what we should expect. He gave up a single, double, and single and only gave up one more. It was way too close for a game that had hit 98.2 % win probability around inning 8.

Ryan is taking the night shift on the 2nd game that has already started. As Don Cornelius would say: “Peace, Love, and Soul.”

Game 2 Recap

Detroit native, the Famous Marshall Mathers once spit these lyrics:

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime

~Eminem

Unfortunately, the Bleached Blonde formerly known as Marshall Mathers is a dirty liar and the Tigers had 2 shots, not one, to beat the Braves and faceplanted. This game started and ended something like this….

His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
Lorenzen on the mound already, not Dave Righetti
He’s nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready, to give up bombs
But he keeps on forgetting what sign went down, this small crowd will never be loud
He opens his mouth, but the words won’t come out
He’s choking how, everybody’s joking now
The clock’s run out, throw it, dingers blaow!

I’m pretty sure I also saw Mom’s spaghetti on Michael Lorenzen‘s jersey.

The Game

Braves jumped out to a commanding lead on the backs of Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr, who both went ding-dong city. Unfortunately, Dylan Dodd is still not very good and gave up a HR in the 3rd and 2 homers in the 4th, allowing the Tigers to tie the game. Apparently, Eddie Rosario does not like tie ballgames so he entered the HR parade, The game stayed that way until the final out and the Braves are now back to being the best team in the NL.