Tigers Sweep Braves in Showcase Game

 ~ Tigers Sweep Braves ~ 

 Sunday Night Baseball Showcase 
 is an 8-3 Win Over Atlanta 

Omar Infante puts the Tigers ahead 4-3 on this solo HR.

They won't be overlooking the bottom of the Detroit batting order anymore. Not after the Detroit Tigers handily swept the major leagues' formerly best Atlanta Braves Sunday night under the rug on the national stage.

Omar Infante continues on a hot hitting streak.

On ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball Detroit put together it's first sweep of the season over the most unlikely of opponents.  It was not really a pretty sight to see in these drizzly conditions, except for the exciting baseball action that commanded attention!  Credit must go to 2nd baseman Omar Infante - with a current hitting streak which is scorching opposing pitchers in situations they never thought would be so threatening - who has catapulted his batting average to an incredible .316 while hitting from the #9 position!  

The Braves got to Doug Fister in the 4th but Detroit kept coming back.

Another strong effort came from Detroit starter Doug Fister (whose record is now 4-0) who made his 100th career start, allowing just three runs on six hits over seven innings with 8 strikeouts.  He actually fanned 5 of those in the first 2 innings on his way to the impressive win.

The grounds crew was kept busy in the steady drizzle.

  Tiger hits seem to always come in bunches.  That's good if it results in getting men across the plate.  SS Jhonny Peralta is also on a rapid climb in his statistics, following closely behind 3rd baseman  Miguel Cabrera who upped his string of games with a hit up to 12 in-a-row.  

After his 3-run shot, Miguel Cabrera trots home.

 Then, combine Cabrera with Prince Fielder coming right after him and that makes the most feared 3-4 batters in the majors.

Prince Fielder connects for a single in the 4th inning.

Atlanta had juggled its batting order in an effort to stop their slide - the Braves are on a 3-8 slope - and they found some success in the 4th inning.  A couple of hits, a hit batsman and a lucky bounce here and there and the game was tied at 3.  But it was not for long.

Jose Valverde got his 3rd save in 3 attempts.

Al Albuquerque came in relief and did not seem to have his control, so in comes Jose Valverde with 2 men on in the 9th to end the threat.  All in all Detroit collected 9 hits and has now lengthened Atlanta's losing streak to 4 while the Tigers extend their winning streak to 3.  We'll see if the Tigers can continue this success Monday night against the suddenly hot Minnesota Twins as Max Scherzer takes the mound.  You can see it all on the Big H-D Screens at CUBS' A.C. in Ann Arbor.

The Detroit Red Wings clinched the 7th seed in the Western Conference at their season finale in Dallas Saturday night. They will open the playoffs against 2nd-seeded Anaheim Tuesday night.

Don't Forget!  The Wings play in Anaheim for 2 and return to the Joe for 2 and if
if you are not going we'll have it here on the Big Screens!

  Here's the Deal - You can catch BOTH the Tigers and the Red Wings on the Big H-D Screens at CUBS' A.C. in Ann Arbor during Happy Hour - Monday thru Friday from 12 Noon until 6 PM - and also.... Happy Hour II from 9:00pm 'til Midnite Mon-Thur - and enjoy $2.00 LARGE domestic drafts that are crisp, clean, cold and fresh.

 GO TIGERS!!  
 GO WINGS!!  

Game Notes:  LOB_Atlanta 8, Detroit 4. 2B_T.Pastornicky, C.Johnson, M.Cabrera. HR_A.Jackson (2) off M.Minor, O.Infante (2) off M.Minor, M.Cabrera (3) off C.Gearrin. SF_V.Martinez. C.Gearrin pitched to 2 batters in the 7th. A.Alburquerque pitched to 2 batters in the 9th. HBP_by D.Fister (F.Freeman,J.Upton), by A.Alburquerque (R.Johnson). 
WP_A.Alburquerque 2.
T_2:40. A_33469.
Umpires_Home,Dan Iassogna; First, Mark Carlson; Second, Mike Muchlinski; Third, Brian Knight.