What started out as a laugher, turned into a tight, tense game as the Tigers and Marauders hooked up in game 1 of their best-of-three series. Tigers starter Greg Froese kept the Maroons off the scoreboard in his 2 innings of work, while the Bengals jumped all over Marauders hurler Frank Iker, putting up 3 runs in each of the first two innings. Scott Ranney got things rolling when he absolutely destroyed a hanging curveball for a two-run bomb, which was then followed one out later by a solo shot off the bat of Jason Abraham. The second inning saw the Tigers load the bases, and with two out, Mike Pingle cleared them all with a double to the centrefield fence.
At this point, the Marauders could have cut their losses and start to think about game 2, but instead they came out swinging in the top of the third, hanging a 6-spot on the board to even the score. The teams traded runs, and with the game tied at seven, Scott Bailey came through with a clutch, two out RBI single to drive in Scott Ranney from third, and help his own cause in the process. The Tigers would tack on another run in the same inning on an infield dribbler by Brad Tupper to put the Cats up by two.
Jamie MacIntyre came on to pitch two scoreless innings to seal up the victory, and send the Tigers into game 2 with a 1-0 lead in the series. Next game is on Sunday night @ 7PM at Ireland C, where the teams will switch dugouts and go at it again.
Tigers, Red Sox Even at Eleven
It was a hot, sticky night at the ballyard Friday evening as the Tigers and Red Sox faced off for their final regular season meeting. In a game that neither team deserved to win, it was fitting for it to mercifully end, after just 5 exasperating innings, in an 11-11 draw. If ties are said to be like kissing your sister, then this one could only be described as kissing the proverbial redheaded stepchild; it was that ugly.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the top of the first on a Scott Ranney RBI double, followed by a Jason Abraham single, to put the visitors up 2-0. The Sox came back in the bottom of the inning to put up 4 runs of their own, helped out by some sloppy fielding by the Tigers. Not to be discouraged, the Bengals replied with a 6-spot in the 2nd frame, the big blast being a Marc Messier bases clearing double; just don't tell Ranney that after hustling all the way from first, the seventh run didn't count.
The Red Sox continued to peck away at the lead, until eventually the game was knotted at eleven in the bottom of the fifth, with the sacks juiced and nobody out for the Sox. Instead of crumbling under the pressure, pitcher Greg Froese settled down, got his panties turned around the right way with the flower at the front, and proceeded to retire the next three hitters without allowing the winning run to cross the plate.
Next Tiger action is this Sunday, 6:00pm at Ireland Park versus the frontrunning Cardinals.
Tigers Hang On, Beat Red Sox
The Tigers were able to hang on and beat the Red Sox on Friday night by a score of 5-4. The Red Sox put up 2 runs in the top of the first inning to take a quick lead. The Cats responded with 5 runs in thier half of the first, highlighted by a baseloaded hit to right field by Mike Pingle that got under the glove of the Sox fielder and cleared the bases, Pingle ended up at third bag, eventually scoring on a line drive hit off the bat of Todd Ford. By the end of the inning, The Tigers were up 5-2.
The Sox batters kept the pressure on most of the night, with the Tigers outfielders being kept busy. Centrefielder Scott Ranney made nice grabs in both right centre and left centre, right fielder Opie McEachern, made a nice catch off a line drive, but certainly the play of the game, and possibly game saving, was a grab on the run by Winston You Lose Some Thompson.
The Tigers hurlers did a good job on the hill, with Brad Tupper getting the win for his first two innings of work. Steve Austen also made a two inning appearance on the hill, throwing two innings of no runs. Scott Bailey, who certainly has been a workhorse for this staff, allowed two unearned runs and getting the Dean Howard Save.
Next up for the Tigers is rematch of the 1968 and 2006 World Series Teams, as the Tigers play host to the Cardinals, 8:30 at Nelson, hopefully Mean Dean will be rooting for the Cats and not the Birds.
Cats Cruise in 8-4 Victory
The Giants are certainly an improved baseball team this year. Having split the first two games of the season series between the two teams, the Tigers definitely wanted to avenge their earlier loss in this final meeting. The Giants beat the Tigers earlier this year in a game that only went 5 innings. We will never know for sure, but the Tigers believe that if the full seven innings were played, they would have come out on top. The time curfew did not allow for that and the Giants handed the Tigers their first loss.
Tigers veteran pitcher Scott Bailey, working his 5th and 6th innings in the past 3 games, was the winner in the rubber match, benefitting from a nice double play in the top of the first, Austen to Tupper to Abraham (not to be confused with Tinkers to Evers to Chance). By the time Greg Froese took to the hill, the Tigers had a 4-0 lead. G did not have his best stuff against his former team in his first inning of work, but settled in nicely for his second inning of work. Jamie MacIntyre finished the game, earning the Dean Howard Save, although he did give up a few runs, but very easily could have come away unscathed, as the leadoff man swung at strike three, but reached base on the passed ball. The big blow came from Giants starter Norm Watt, who laced a line drive to the outfield. It is noted that if the catcher would have used the big leather thing on his left hand to catch the ball, rather than his bare right hand on the prior pitch, it might have saved a few runs.
The July long weekend is coming up, with the Tigers at 8-3; comfortable, but knowing that they could have turned a couple of those losses around. They also recognize that the remaining two months of regular season baseball will be tough, not having seen the Cardinals, Red Sox and last years Lutz Cup Champion MudHens. We'll see you soon, HAPPY CANADA DAY TO ALL
More Errors Than Hits, Let Down Happens
Why is it tough to win back to back games? The Tigers had no problem with the Marauders on Friday night, with an easy victory by the score of 14-5. The Tigers faced the Marauders on Sunday night and were never really into the game, getting only 4 hits and committing at least that many errors.
The Marauders certainly were a chippy bunch of players on Sunday night, knowing they could play better than they showed on Friday. As the Maraduers had many miscues and errors on Friday, it was the Tigers turn to play poorly in the field. Despite the defense, a couple of timely Tiger hits could have forced a different result.
The Tigers play next on Tuesday night, 8:30 at Nelson, looking to avenge a previous poor outing versus the Giants.
McEachern on the Home Run Board
Marauders defense lets them down, Tigers take advantage with many hits, win game 14-5.
Darcy McEachern got on the home run board with a two run homerun.
Second Game of Back to Back goes Sunday, 8:30 at Ireland C.
The Tigers have just completed a 6 game stretch in only 11 days, coming away with 4 victories, and moving their overall record to 5-2.
Tuesday evening the Tigers were visiting the Brewers, fully expecting to see a better offensive performance than what was shown this past Friday. The Tigers pitching staff did an excellent job, with Jamie MacIntyre starting and picking up the W in the 4-1 victory. While it certainly was not his best performance, T-Bone did his job when the Brewers were able to get runners on base. Derrick Ruetter had his best outing to date, and is starting to get more comfortable on the hill. Hopefully once regular catcher Marc Messier is available, Ruetter will be hitting on all cylinders. Scott Bailey pitched the final three innings, giving up one unearned run, and earning the Dean Howard Save.
The offense did not have its greatest game, but certainly took advantage of a few Brewer errors and miscues; of note, the insurance run in the top of the seventh certainly was a great sight, as Brad Tupper hit a line drive double and was cashed in a few pitches later on a Ruetter RBI single.
As mentioned earlier, there has certainly been a lot of activity for the pitching staff, but there is good news on the horizon, as the Tigers face the Cubs on Sunday night, 8:30 at Nelson, and then are off until Friday June 19th, when they start a weekend series versus the Marauders.
Tiger Bats Silent in Loss
Coming off a well played victory over the Brewers Friday night, the Tigers looked to continue their solid play in their second meeting with the Hobos. Although they once again held the Hobos to 5 runs, this time the bats just weren't there, resulting in a 5-2 loss. The only real bright spot in the game for the Bengals was the shutout pitching by Dean
Giants Upset Tigers
The Tigers were feeling pretty good about thier win this past Sunday evening over the Hobos. Waking up on Wednesday morning, I am sure they felt terrible about the loss to the Giants.
The Giants, who entered the game winless, held on to beat the Tigers, fair and square, with a score of 3-2. It was a cold and wet night at Nelson park, and perhaps the Tigers were more interested in keeping their bats warm and kept them in their cars, as they could only muster up 3 hits, two of them from new Tiger Jason Abraham.
