Game Recap #7 Colorado Rockies @ Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies were able to keep a very tight game through nine innings. Despite control issues by both Detroit starter Casey Crosby and Colorado starter Jeff Francis, run prevention was mildly effective. Colorado first broke through in the third inning, as Chris Nelson ripped a long triple into right center to bring home Willin Rosario. Nelson later came home in the same inning on a Dexter Fowler double to left. Detroit struck back in their half of the third inning with Austin Jackson doubling in backup catcher Bryan Holaday before Miguel Cabrera did the same for him, both hits going to left. Cabrera scored a Prince Fielder single to center, and the Tigers found themselves in front after three innings. The Rockies got to Crosby again in the fourth though, forcing him out of the game after 3 2/3 innings, seeing him surrender four runs, all earned, on six hits and four walks, while striking out four. The pitch that did him in was served up as a Nelson home run, a two-run blast put over the wall in right field that also scored Jordan Pacheco. The fifth inning went smoothly for Duane Below and the Tigers, and they were able to chase Francis in the sixth after Brennan Boesch grounded out to score Holaday. Francis departed from the tie game after 5 1/3 innings in which he gave up eight hits, three walks, and four earned runs while striking out only two. Working the late innings were Adam Ottavino, Rex Brothers, and Matt Belisle for the Rockies and Below, Brayan Villarreal, Phil Coke, and Joaquin Benoit for the Tigers. All of them were able to keep a clean slate, and as time passed it was apparent this game was headed for extra innings. Coke showed the most trouble in pitching, allowing three hits in his 2/3 of an inning of work. This proved to be a foreshadowing event, as Colorado's offense absolutely teed off on Tigers (possibly ex-) closer Jose Valverde in the tenth inning. It started with Michael Cuddyer singling to get on base, followed by Valverde erring to get Eric Young aboard and then choosing to load the bases by intentionally walking Todd Helton. It proved useless, as Pacheco grounded into a fielder's choice that saw Cuddyer out at home, but then Rosasio's single brought home both Young and Helton. DJ LeMahieu ran for Pacheco, and was able to get home on a Fowler sacrifice fly, followed by Marco Scutaro singling to finish Rosario's trip around. Finally, the big guns came into the show, as Carlos Gonzalez ripped a three-run long ball to score Nelson and Scutaro, and Cuddyer backed it up with his second hit of the inning, a solo home run. Rafael Betancourt shut down Detroit's bottom of the order in the bottom of the tenth, and sealed a 12-4 win that was much closer for most of the game than the final shows. Nobody was able to successfully steal a base in this game, interestingly enough, but every starter besides Boesch and Danny Worth had a hit in today's game. Usually, Detroit fans see fireworks after their home games, but it was Colorado that supplied the explosiveness tonight.