The Brewers hit two home runs in the fifth inning off Tigers starter Vern Ruhle, and the blasts were the difference as Milwaukee won, 4-2, this afternoon.
The Tigers entered the contest having given up just six home runs in 16 games. The Brewers didn't care, as they got dingers from Darrell Porter (solo) and Don Money (two-run shot) in the fifth inning to move ahead, 3-1.
The Tigers edged to within 3-2 in the sixth, but the Brewers added a run in the seventh inning for some insurance.
It was the same old story for the Tigers: inefficiency on offense. They had ten hits, yet scored just twice.
Money's two-run home run proved the difference
"We just have to start scoring more runs," Tigers manager Ralp Houk said. "We're leaving way too many runners on base."
Twelve, to be exact, in today's contest as the Tigers fell to 7-10.
Ruhle had cruised through the first four innings when he served up the home runs in the fifth.
"Just threw some fat pitches and they did what big league hitters do," Ruhle lamented afterward.
Gary Sutherland had three singles, lifting his league-leading hit total to 28, and raising his average to an even .400, also leading the league.
The Tigers infield trio of Sutherland, shortstop Tom Veryzer and third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez are a combined 65-for-179 (.363) this season. But, as an indictment of the Tigers' offensive struggles, the three have scored just 17 runs total.
"Our no. 8 and 9 guys have been terrific," Houk said of Veryzer and Rodriguez, respectively. "And Suds (Sutherland), what can you say?"
But none of it was enough to overcome even a two-run deficit.
The Tigers' team ERA is a very respectable 3.52.
"That should win you a lot more games than we have," Houk said.
Indeed.
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Tigers record: 7-10 (actual 10-7)
Home: 2-7
Away: 5-3
Hi Greg,
ReplyDeleteEnjoying the blog and replay!
David
Thanks!
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