japanese technology: Tigers shut out again after Cabrera's costly popup

Monday, October 29, 2012

Tigers shut out again after Cabrera's costly popup

By NOAH TRISTER

AP Baseball Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 11:08 p.m. ET Oct. 27, 2012

DETROIT (AP) - Miguel Cabrera had his chance with the bases loaded. Instead, he ended up standing alone near third base with his hands on his hips.

Another frustrating moment for the Tigers in a World Series filled with them.

Detroit's Triple Crown winner left the bases loaded in the fifth with a harmless popup, wasting Detroit's best chance to break through against Ryan Vogelsong in Game 3 of the Series on Saturday night. The Tigers ended up losing 2-0 to the San Francisco Giants - their second straight game without a run.

Detroit trails the best-of-seven series 3-0 after becoming the first team since 1966 to be shut out in back-to-back World Series games, according to STATS LLC. Baltimore blanked the Los Angeles Dodgers three times in a row that year.

The Tigers hadn't been shut out twice in a row since 2008, and not in a single postseason since Games 4 and 5 of the 1908 World Series against the Chicago Cubs, according to STATS.

The Tigers had their opportunities. They had a runner on base in seven of the first eight innings, but they hit into double plays to end the first and third.

Cabrera had a chance to put all those frustrations to rest. Down 2-0, Detroit loaded the bases in the fifth on singles by Alex Avila and Omar Infante and a walk by Austin Jackson. Quintin Berry struck out, but Cabrera was waiting to hit next.

With the crowd chanting "MVP!" and the Comerica Park fans desperate for something to happen, Cabrera slapped a line drive down the right-field line, and for an instant, it looked as if he had tied the game or perhaps given the Tigers the lead.

The ball landed a few feet foul. He then popped out to the shortstop.

Detroit left nine men on base in the game.

Returning home after two losses in San Francisco, the Tigers had a chance to strike early when Berry walked and Cabrera singled with one out in the first. But Prince Fielder grounded into a double play to wipe out that threat.

The Giants made Detroit pay immediately, scoring their only two runs in the top of the second.

Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez walked Hunter Pence to start the inning. Before that, Sanchez had faced 95 consecutive right-handed batters without a walk, according to STATS.

This free pass proved costly. After a stolen base and a wild pitch, Pence was on third, and he scored on Gregor Blanco's triple. Brandon Crawford's RBI single made it 2-0.

The Tigers grounded into 156 double plays in the regular season, the most in baseball. Berry hit into one in the third Saturday after Infante and Jackson singled.

Detroit made it to the World Series by sweeping the Yankees when New York was in the middle of an awful hitting slump. Now it's the Tigers who haven't been able to score - and they're a loss away from their own four-game exit.

While Detroit never trailed during the ALCS, the Tigers have not led in the World Series.

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