5.16.15 Recap: Cards Lose in Extras

First of all, I want to apologize for the untimeliness of this recap.  I have a really good excuse, though: I was out getting a puppy!  Want to have your day, brightened, VEB?  You're welcome.

The Game

The Tigers scored first today, on a solo home run by Miguel Cabrera in the top of the first inning.  That was his career 400th home run, and puts him #1 on the list for Venezuelan-born players.  (What was that I was saying last week about the Cardinals always being on the wrong side of history?)  After the quick first inning, the rain started in, causing a one hour and 20 minute rain delay.

After the delay, both starters - David Price and Tyler Lyons - stayed in the game.  Price, of course, had only thrown two pitches before the delay.  The Cardinals got their own solo home run in the bottom of the first inning off the bat of Matt M.F. Carpenter. Matt Holliday walked - extending his on-base streak to 34 games - and Jhonny Peralta walked, but the Cardinals couldn't score again in the first.

The Redbirds took the lead in the bottom of the second on an unexpected Peter Bourjos solo home run.  (That's Randal Bourjos for those of you watching the broadcast today, courtesy of Ricky.)  The lead was short-lived. In the top of the third inning, Rajai Davis hit a leadoff triple - he is super fast, as are many of the Tigers' players.  Ian Kinsler drove him in with a double, tying the game 2-2.  That was it for Lyons, who finished the day with a sort of strange line: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 BB, and 5 SOs.  Carlos Villanueva came in to relieve Lyons, and promptly walked J.D. Martinez.  A single by Yoenis Cespedes drove in Kinsler to give Detroit the lead, 3-2.

The Cardinals' home run parade was not complete.  In the bottom of the sixth, Jhonny Peralta hit a rocket to the left field bleachers - unfortunately, another solo home run, but it tied the game 3-3.  The Cardinals threatened again in the seventh, after consecutive doubles by Jason Heyward and Randal Grichuk, but couldn't manage to get a run across.  You read that right: consecutive doubles, no runs scored.  Heyward held up on Grichuk's deep fly ball to left center and was ready to tag up.  But the ball wasn't caught and Heyward couldn't advance past third.  Neither Matt could bring the run home, both slamming their bats in frustration at their respective failures.

The game remained tied at 3 until the top of the tenth inning.  Matt Belisle gave up a walk to Martinez, a single to Cespedes, and a single to Jose Iglesias.  4-3 Tigers.  Matt Holliday got a base hit in the bottom of the tenth inning, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Matt Adams followed with a single of his own, but Mark Reynolds and Yadier Molina both struck out to end the game.

Real downer, this one. Missed opportunities - especially in the 7th inning - came back to haunt us.  You're probably all feeling pretty bad, but not me.  Because I have this cutie!

Have a great Saturday night, everyone.  See you next weekend!