Saturday, August 2, 2014

The Arizona Diamondbacks are World Series Champions!

November 1, 2012: John McDonald hit just .178 in the playoffs and just .167 in the World Series, but he will long be remembered as a World Series hero since his 3-run home run in the 4th inning of Game 7 turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead that held up as the final score. McDonald of course also hit a grand slam the day before in a game 6 rout. Miguel Montero and Chris Johnson set the table for McDonald with singles preceding his big blast.

Trevor Cahill went 6 innings for the win, his first win of the Series but his 4th of the playoffs. David Hernandez struck out 3 in 2 scoreless innings, and JJ Putz earned the save. Pinch hitter Delmon Young ended the game with a ground out with a runner on 1st.

Aaron Hill earns the World Series MVP. He didn't hit a 3-run homer in Game 7 like McDonald, but he did win game 2 with a walk-off 3-run homer and hit .370 for the Series.


BOXSCORE: 2012 Detroit Tigers At 2012 Arizona Diamondbacks          11/1/2012
 
  Tigers             AB  R  H RBI AVG     Diamondbacks       AB  R  H RBI AVG
  A.Jackson CF        4  1  1  0 .260     A.Eaton CF          3  0  0  0 .299  
  Q.Berry LF          4  1  1  1 .294   C-C.Young CF          0  0  0  0 .125  
H-D.Young PH          1  0  0  0 .214     A.Hill 2B           4  0  1  0 .310  
  M.Cabrera 3B        4  0  1  1 .359     J.Kubel LF          4  0  1  0 .186  
  P.Fielder 1B        3  0  1  0 .227   D-G.Parra LF          0  0  0  0 .176  
  A.Dirks RF          4  0  1  0 .350     P.Goldschmidt 1B    2  0  1  0 .351  
  J.Peralta SS        3  0  0  0 .210     J.Upton RF          4  0  0  0 .288  
  A.Avila C           4  0  0  0 .171     M.Montero C         4  1  1  0 .383  
  O.Infante 2B        3  0  0  0 .261     C.Johnson 3B        4  1  3  0 .328  
F-R.Santiago PH       1  0  0  0 .000   E-W.Bloomquist 3B     0  0  0  0 .000  
  M.Scherzer P        1  0  0  0 .000     J.McDonald SS       4  1  1  3 .178  
A-A.Garcia PH         1  0  0  0 .438     T.Cahill P          3  0  1  0 .273  
  P.Coke P            0  0  0  0 ----     D.Hernandez P       0  0  0  0 .000  
G-B.Boesch PH         1  0  1  0 .500   B-C.Ransom PH         1  0  0  0 .143  
                                          J.Putz P            0  0  0  0 ----  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      34  2  6  2                 Totals      33  3  9  3
 
A-Pinch Hit For Scherzer In 6th Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Hernandez In 8th Inning
C-Subbed Defensively (CF) For Eaton In 9th Inning
D-Subbed Defensively (LF) For Kubel In 9th Inning
E-Subbed Defensively (3B) For Johnson In 9th Inning
F-Pinch Hit For Infante In 9th Inning
G-Pinch Hit For Coke In 9th Inning
H-Pinch Hit For Berry In 9th Inning
 
Tigers.......... 2 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  2  6  0
Diamondbacks.... 0 0 0  3 0 0  0 0    -  3  9  1
 
Tigers (10-7)            IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
M.Scherzer LOSS(0-2)      5       7   3   3   2   7   1  83   2.83
P.Coke                    3       2   0   0   1   4   0  39   2.35
Totals                    8       9   3   3   3  11   1
 
Diamondbacks (11-6)      IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
T.Cahill WIN(4-0)         6       5   2   2   3   6   0  95   3.69
D.Hernandez HOLD(4th)     2       0   0   0   0   3   0  26   0.00
J.Putz SAVE(6th)          1       1   0   0   0   1   0  12   3.48
Totals                    9       6   2   2   3  10   0
 
ATTENDANCE- 44,000 DATE- Thursday, November 1st 2012 TIME- Night WEATHER- Average
UMPIRES- Dale Scott, Bill Miller, Dan Iassogna, C.B. Bucknor
T- 2:58
LEFT ON BASE- Tigers: 9  Diamondbacks: 9
DOUBLE PLAYS- Tigers: 0  Diamondbacks: 0
ERRORS- T.Cahill
DOUBLES- M.Cabrera(3rd), A.Hill(4th), P.Goldschmidt(5th)
TRIPLES- Q.Berry(1st)
HOME RUNS- J.McDonald(3rd)
RBIs- Q.Berry(3rd), M.Cabrera(17th), J.McDonald-3(11th)
WALKS- A.Jackson, J.Peralta, M.Scherzer, A.Eaton, P.Goldschmidt-2
HIT BY PITCH- P.Fielder
STRIKE OUTS- A.Jackson, M.Cabrera-2, P.Fielder, A.Dirks-2, J.Peralta-2, A.Avila,
             O.Infante, A.Eaton, J.Kubel-3, P.Goldschmidt, J.Upton, M.Montero,
             C.Johnson, J.McDonald, T.Cahill, C.Ransom
RLISP 2-out- A.Avila, M.Montero-3, A.Hill, Q.Berry-2, J.Upton
 
44,000 fans were treated to a fine game at Chase Field as only one run
separated the combatants at game's end.  The Arizona Diamondbacks won by the
slimmest of margins, 3 to 2.
 
Detroit lost it in the 4th inning when Arizona did all their damage when they
came up with 3 runs on 3 hits.  The key at-bat was by John McDonald who
excited the crowd when he lofted a three-run bomb.  Both teams' bats went to
sleep after the 4th inning with no runs scored after that point.  
 
Trevor Cahill(4-0) went 6 innings allowing 2 runs for the victory. Cahill got
help from J.J. Putz who was credited with his 6th save.  Max Scherzer(0-2)
took the loss.  
 

October 31, 2012: Diamondbacks 10 Tigers 5 (World Series tied, 3-3)

The Diamondbacks hammer Anibal Sanchez, and the Detroit bullpen is little relief in a 10-5 win that sets up a game 7 showdown in this year's World Series. Miguel Montero cracked a 2-run homer in the 2nd that gave his team a 3-0 lead. The DBacks ultimately scored 4 runs off Sanchez, and it could have been even worse if not for a first inning triple play turned by the Tigers! Arizona had 3 straight singles to start the game and had already scored a run when the Tigers turned the trick.

Detroit had pulled within 2 runs with 2 in the top of the 4th, but Arizona put it away for good in the 6th when they loaded the bases with a walk and single off Joaquin Benoit and an intentional walk of Chris Johnson by Phil Coke. Coke did that to face John McDonald, who cracked a big fly to score 4 runs and put Arizona up by 6.

Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin will reprise their game 3 matchup in a game 7 showdown. Scherzer went 9 innings in game 3 and allowed just one earned run, but was out of the game when it was decided by a Wil Nieves solo homer in the 9th. 

This will be my first World Series decided in a 7th game since 2004, when the Braves beat the Red Sox. 2004, 2003 and 2001 all went the distance; all three were lost by the Red Sox to the Braves, Astros and Giants, respectively.

BOXSCORE: 2012 Detroit Tigers At 2012 Arizona Diamondbacks         10/31/2012
 
  Tigers             AB  R  H RBI AVG     Diamondbacks       AB  R  H RBI AVG
  A.Jackson CF        5  0  1  0 .261     A.Eaton CF          4  2  4  0 .313  
  O.Infante 2B        5  0  2  0 .273     A.Hill 2B           4  0  2  2 .313  
  M.Cabrera 3B        3  1  0  0 .367     J.Kubel LF          5  1  2  2 .179  
  P.Fielder 1B        4  0  1  1 .222     P.Goldschmidt 1B    3  1  1  0 .345  
  J.Peralta SS        4  1  0  0 .220     J.Upton RF          4  2  2  0 .306  
  A.Dirks LF          4  0  0  1 .357     M.Montero C         3  1  1  2 .393  
  A.Garcia RF         4  0  2  1 .452     C.Johnson 3B        3  2  1  0 .300  
  G.Laird C           4  1  1  0 .188     J.McDonald SS       4  1  2  4 .171  
  A.Sanchez P         1  0  0  0 .333     P.Corbin P          3  0  0  0 .200  
A-A.Avila PH          0  0  0  0 .194     M.Zagurski P        1  0  0  0 .000  
  J.Benoit P          0  0  0  0 ----     J.Putz P            0  0  0  0 ----  
  P.Coke P            0  0  0  0 ----                                          
B-D.Young PH          1  1  1  1 .218                                          
  O.Dotel P           0  0  0  0 ----                                          
  A.Alburquerque P    0  0  0  0 ----                                          
C-B.Boesch PH         1  1  1  1 .333                                          
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      36  5  9  5                 Totals      34 10 15 10
 
A-Pinch Hit For Sanchez In 5th Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Coke In 7th Inning
C-Pinch Hit For Alburquerque In 9th Inning
 
Tigers.......... 0 0 0  2 0 0  1 0 2  -  5  9  1
Diamondbacks.... 1 2 1  0 0 4  1 1    - 10 15  2
 
Tigers (10-6)            IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
A.Sanchez LOSS(0-3)       4       8   4   4   0   2   2  54   8.24
J.Benoit                  1 1/3   2   2   2   1   0   0  17   6.43
P.Coke                    0 2/3   1   2   2   1   2   1  10   3.86
O.Dotel                   1 1/3   4   2   2   0   2   0  34   7.36
A.Alburquerq              0 2/3   0   0   0   2   1   0  18   0.00
Totals                    8      15  10  10   4   7   3
 
Diamondbacks (10-6)      IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
P.Corbin WIN(2-0)         6 2/3   5   3   1   5   5   1 115   3.18
M.Zagurski                1 2/3   3   2   2   0   2   0  29   9.00
J.Putz                    0 2/3   1   0   0   0   1   0   8   3.86
Totals                    9       9   5   3   5   8   1
 
ATTENDANCE- 47,872 DATE- Wednesday, October 31st 2012 TIME- Night WEATHER- Good
UMPIRES- Paul Schrieber, Tim Welke, Laz Diaz, Mike Everitt
T- 2:56
LEFT ON BASE- Tigers: 9  Diamondbacks: 5
DOUBLE PLAYS- Tigers: 3  Diamondbacks: 1
TRIPLE PLAYS- Tigers: 1  Diamondbacks: 0
ERRORS- P.Fielder, C.Johnson, J.McDonald
DOUBLES- A.Garcia(1st), G.Laird(1st), B.Boesch(1st), P.Goldschmidt(4th)
HOME RUNS- D.Young(6th), J.Kubel(1st), M.Montero(2nd), J.McDonald(2nd)
RBIs- P.Fielder(7th), A.Dirks(6th), A.Garcia(2nd), D.Young(14th), B.Boesch(1st),
      A.Hill-2(12th), J.Kubel-2(6th), M.Montero-2(11th), J.McDonald-4(8th)
STOLEN BASES- A.Eaton(3rd), J.Upton(4th)
WALKS- M.Cabrera-2, P.Fielder, J.Peralta, A.Avila, A.Eaton, A.Hill,
       P.Goldschmidt, C.Johnson
HIT BY PITCH- M.Montero
STRIKE OUTS- A.Jackson, M.Cabrera, P.Fielder, J.Peralta, A.Dirks, A.Garcia-2,
             G.Laird, J.Kubel, P.Goldschmidt, J.Upton, M.Montero, C.Johnson,
             P.Corbin-2
GIDP- A.Dirks, A.Hill-2, J.McDonald
2-out RBI- J.Kubel, A.Garcia, J.McDonald-4, A.Hill, P.Fielder
RLISP 2-out- J.Peralta-2, J.Upton, P.Fielder, G.Laird, J.Kubel-2
WEB GEMS- Bot 1st: Detroit turns a triple play!
 
John McDonald smacked a grand slam as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the
Detroit Tigers by the score of 10 to 5 at Chase Field.
 
The game started off with Arizona taking the lead in the first plating an
isolated run on 3 hits.  Offensively, Arizona was a juggernaut.  They scored
in 6 separate innings.  
 
The win went to Patrick Corbin(2-0) who allowed 3 runs in 6 and 2/3 innings.
Anibal Sanchez(0-3) was tagged with the loss.  He allowed 8 hits and no walks
in 4 innings.

October 29, 2012: Tigers 5 Diamondbacks 1 (Tigers lead World Series, 3-2)

The Tigers got exactly what they needed out of Justin Verlander in game 5, and now sit one win away from their first World Series win of my SOM era, and their first since 1984 if we go back to real life history.

Verlander went 8 innings, allowing just one run. Walks were again a problem for him with 5, but he was able to scatter the baserunners to keep the runs off the board. He also got some help from his defense, who turned 3 double plays.

Offensively, the Tigers led the solo homer do the talking: Delmon Young in the 2nd, Alex Avila and Omar Infante in the 7th, and Prince Fielder in the 8th. The other run came in the 2nd when Andy Dirks tripled after Young's home run and scored on a ground out.

The series will return to Arizona, where Anibal Sanchez and Patrick Corbin will have a rematch of game 2, which was won on a walk-off 3-run homer from Aaron Hill.


BOXSCORE: 2012 Arizona Diamondbacks At 2012 Detroit Tigers         10/29/2012
 
  Diamondbacks       AB  R  H RBI AVG     Tigers             AB  R  H RBI AVG
  A.Eaton DH          3  0  0  0 .267     A.Jackson CF        3  0  0  0 .266  
  A.Hill 2B           2  1  0  0 .302     Q.Berry LF          3  0  0  0 .300  
  J.Upton RF          3  0  1  0 .293     M.Cabrera 3B        4  0  1  0 .386  
  P.Goldschmidt 1B    3  0  0  0 .346     P.Fielder 1B        4  1  2  1 .220  
  M.Montero C         3  0  3  0 .396     D.Young DH          4  1  1  1 .204  
  C.Johnson 3B        4  0  0  0 .298     A.Dirks RF          4  1  3  0 .385  
  J.Kubel LF          4  0  1  0 .147     J.Peralta SS        4  0  1  1 .236  
  J.McDonald SS       4  0  0  0 .135     A.Avila C           3  1  1  1 .194  
  C.Young CF          2  0  0  0 .125     O.Infante 2B        3  1  1  1 .262  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      28  1  5  0                 Totals      32  5 10  5
 
 
Diamondbacks.... 0 0 0  0 0 1  0 0 0  -  1  5  0
Tigers.......... 0 2 0  0 0 0  2 1    -  5 10  0
 
Diamondbacks (9-6)       IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
I.Kennedy LOSS(0-3)       6 1/3   6   3   3   2   4   2  98   4.24
M.Zagurski                0       1   1   1   0   0   1   3   8.31
B.Bergesen                1       1   1   1   0   0   1   8   5.06
M.Albers                  0 2/3   2   0   0   0   2   0  15   0.00
Totals                    8      10   5   5   2   6   4
 
Tigers (10-5)            IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
J.Verlander WIN(4-0)      8       5   1   1   5   6   0 123   1.64
D.Smyly                   1       0   0   0   1   2   0  14   0.00
Totals                    9       5   1   1   6   8   0
 
ATTENDANCE- 41,287 DATE- Monday, October 29th 2012 TIME- Night WEATHER- Good
UMPIRES- Mike Dimuro, James Hoye, Jim Joyce, Jim Reynolds
T- 2:55
LEFT ON BASE- Diamondbacks: 7  Tigers: 6
DOUBLE PLAYS- Diamondbacks: 1  Tigers: 3
DOUBLES- M.Montero(5th)
TRIPLES- A.Dirks(3rd)
HOME RUNS- P.Fielder(3rd), D.Young(5th), A.Avila(3rd), O.Infante(1st)
RBIs- P.Fielder(6th), D.Young(13th), J.Peralta(5th), A.Avila(7th),
      O.Infante(6th)
SACRIFICE HITS- A.Hill, Q.Berry
WALKS- A.Eaton, A.Hill, J.Upton, P.Goldschmidt, M.Montero, C.Young, A.Jackson,
       A.Avila
STRIKE OUTS- A.Eaton-2, A.Hill, C.Johnson, J.Kubel-2, C.Young-2, Q.Berry,
             M.Cabrera, P.Fielder, D.Young-2, A.Avila
GIDP- P.Goldschmidt-2, C.Johnson, A.Dirks
RLISP 2-out- C.Johnson-3, A.Eaton, P.Fielder, O.Infante, A.Avila
 
The Detroit Tigers toppled the Arizona Diamondbacks by a 5 to 1 score at
Comerica Park.
 
Detroit took the lead for good in the 2nd inning scoring 2 runners on 2 hits.
That early run support was enough for Justin Verlander(4-0) and Detroit.
Detroit had 10 hits for the night while Arizona had 5.  
 
Ian Kennedy(0-3) was hit with the loss.  He surrendered 6 hits and 2 walks in
6 and 1/3 innings.

October 28, 2012: Tigers 8 Diamondbacks 7 (10) (World Series tied, 2-2)

The Diamondbacks and Tigers need extra innings to settle the score for the 2nd straight day, but this time it's the Tigers who come out on top and tie up the series in the process. The Tigers were down by 2 going into the 8th but scored a run in the 8th, a run in the 9th to tie it, and a run in the 10th to win it. Here's how it went down:

In the 8th, the Tigers got consecutive signles from the first 3 batters in their lineup, scoring a run and leaving runners on 2nd and 3rd for Prince Fielder. Fielder was pitched around and walked, and Brennan Bosch entered as a pinch hitter for Delmon Young, but struck out to end the inning.

In the 9th, an Austin Jackson single following a single and an HBP scored a run. Don Kelly walked to load the bases, but this time it was Miguel Cabrera who missed an opportunity, grounding out to end the inning.

In the 10th, Fielder grounded out to start the inning, but then it was back to back walks for Boesch and Jhonny Peralta. The Dbacks went to their bullpen for Brad Bergesen, but Avisail Garcia singled to load the bases and Andy Dirks singled to score the winning run.

The Diamondbacks better hope they have plenty of hits left in those bats, because Justin Verlander takes the mound for game 5 against Ian Kennedy.


BOXSCORE: 2012 Arizona Diamondbacks At 2012 Detroit Tigers         10/28/2012
 
  Diamondbacks       AB  R  H RBI AVG     Tigers             AB  R  H RBI AVG
  A.Eaton DH          5  2  2  0 .281     A.Jackson CF        4  2  2  1 .279  
  A.Hill 2B           5  2  3  1 .311     O.Infante 2B        5  1  3  1 .259  
  J.Upton RF          5  0  1  1 .291   A-Q.Berry PR          0  0  0  0 .333  
  P.Goldschmidt 1B    5  1  1  0 .367   C-D.Kelly 2B          0  0  0  0 ----  
  M.Montero C         3  1  1  0 .360     M.Cabrera 3B        6  1  4  1 .396  
  C.Johnson 3B        5  1  2  4 .321     P.Fielder 1B        5  1  2  1 .200  
  J.Kubel LF          4  0  2  1 .133     D.Young DH          4  1  1  3 .200  
  J.McDonald SS       5  0  0  0 .152   B-B.Boesch PH,DH      1  1  0  0 .000  
  C.Young CF          5  0  1  0 .167     J.Peralta SS        5  0  1  0 .235  
                                          A.Garcia RF         6  1  2  0 .444  
                                          A.Dirks LF          4  0  1  1 .354  
                                          G.Laird C           4  0  0  0 .179  
                                        D-A.Avila PH,C        1  0  0  0 .179  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      42  7 13  7                 Totals      45  8 16  8
 
A-Pinch Ran For Infante In 8th Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Young In 8th Inning
C-Subbed Defensively (2B) For Berry In 9th Inning
D-Pinch Hit For Laird In 9th Inning
 
Diamondbacks.... 1 1 0  2 1 0  2 0 0  0 -  7 13  1
Tigers.......... 2 0 3  0 0 0  0 1 1  1 -  8 16  1
 
Diamondbacks (9-5)       IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
W.Miley                   2       5   5   5   3   2   1  48   6.20
B.Ziegler                 3       2   0   0   0   3   0  44   2.45
M.Lindstrom               2 2/3   3   1   1   0   2   0  46   3.24
M.Albers                  0       1   0   0   0   0   0   5   0.00
J.Putz BS(2nd)            1 1/3   3   1   1   2   2   0  37   4.15
M.Zagurski LOSS(0-2)      0 1/3   0   1   1   2   0   0  12   6.23
B.Bergesen                0       2   0   0   0   0   0   6   4.15
Totals                    9 1/3  16   8   8   7   9   1
 
Tigers (9-5)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
D.Fister                  4 2/3   9   5   5   0   5   2  79   4.56
O.Dotel                   1 1/3   0   2   2   2   2   0  25   6.00
R.Porcello                3       2   0   0   2   4   0  38   0.00
P.Coke                    0 2/3   2   0   0   0   1   0  19   0.00
J.Benoit WIN(1-1)         0 1/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   3   4.76
Totals                   10      13   7   7   4  12   2
 
ATTENDANCE- 37,726 DATE- Sunday, October 28th 2012 TIME- Night WEATHER- Good
UMPIRES- Ted Barrett, Brian Runge, Marvin Hudson, Tim McClelland
T- 3:50
LEFT ON BASE- Diamondbacks:10  Tigers:16
DOUBLE PLAYS- Diamondbacks: 0  Tigers: 1
ERRORS- P.Goldschmidt, O.Dotel
DOUBLES- M.Montero(4th), J.Kubel(2nd), O.Infante(3rd)
HOME RUNS- A.Hill(4th), C.Johnson(3rd), D.Young(4th)
RBIs- A.Hill(10th), J.Upton(6th), C.Johnson-4(11th), J.Kubel(4th),
      A.Jackson(8th), O.Infante(5th), M.Cabrera(16th), P.Fielder(5th),
      D.Young-3(12th), A.Dirks(5th)
STOLEN BASES- A.Hill(1st), O.Infante(2nd), M.Cabrera(1st)
WALKS- A.Hill, M.Montero-2, J.Kubel, A.Jackson-2, D.Kelly, P.Fielder, B.Boesch,
       J.Peralta, A.Dirks
HIT BY PITCH- A.Eaton, A.Dirks
STRIKE OUTS- A.Eaton-2, J.Upton, P.Goldschmidt, M.Montero, C.Johnson-2,
             J.Kubel-2, J.McDonald, C.Young-2, O.Infante-2, D.Young, B.Boesch,
             J.Peralta-2, A.Garcia-3
GIDP- J.McDonald
WILD PITCHES- D.Fister
2-out RBI- C.Johnson-2, M.Cabrera, A.Jackson
RLISP 2-out- C.Young, O.Infante, A.Jackson, C.Johnson-2, P.Fielder-2,
             J.McDonald-2, B.Boesch-2, M.Cabrera-2, A.Hill
WEB GEMS- Bot 3rd: Justin Upton robbed Austin Jackson of an extra base hit.
 
37,726 fans watched an exciting game at Comerica Park.  The Detroit Tigers
topped the Arizona Diamondbacks by the slimmest of margins, 8 to 7.
 
Both teams were tied at 7 runs apiece after nine innings.  Finally, Detroit
pulled the game out in the 10th inning.  After an out was recorded, Brennan
Boesch drew a walk.  Jhonny Peralta came next and he drew a walk.  Avisail
Garcia then smacked a single to load the bases.  Andy Dirks followed next and
he lined a one-base hit resulting in an exciting win for Detroit and a wild
post-game celebration by the home town fans.  The score went back-and-forth
with the lead changing 5 times.  
 
The winning pitcher was Joaquin Benoit(1-1) who allowed no runs in 1/3 of an
inning. Mike Zagurski(0-2) ended up with the loss in relief.  He pitched 1/3
of an inning allowing no hits and 2 walks.