Early Lead Thanks to Matt Vierling
What a way to kick off the game! Matt Vierling didn’t waste any time as he smashed a leadoff homer to left field, putting us up 1-0 in the first inning. However, despite some solid hits from Wenceel Pérez and Mark Canha, we couldn't push any more runs across.Nationals Fight Back
Unfortunately, the Nationals tied things up quickly with a solo homer by CJ Abrams in the third inning. Things got shakier as the Nationals took the lead in the 4th and extended it in the 5th, scoring four runs off a couple of crucial plays and errors from our side. By the middle of the 5th, the score stood at 5-1.Offensive Struggles
Our bats went quiet through the 6th and 7th innings, as we struggled to get anything going against the Nationals’ pitching. Carson Kelly, Matt Vierling, and Riley Greene struck out consecutively in the 7th inning, showing how tough things were getting. However, kudos to Andy Ibáñez for fighting to get on base with an infield single.Late-Inning Rally
The 8th inning provided a glimmer of hope! Hits from Pérez and Canha, followed by Colt Keith converting an error into a run, reduced the deficit. Then, Gio Urshela came through clutch with a double, plating two more runs to make it a one-run game, 5-4!Nationals Extend the Lead
Sadly, our momentum was short-lived as the Nationals capitalized on more opportunities in the 9th, adding two insurance runs. It felt like a tough blow, as they stretched their lead to 7-4.Final Push Falls Short
In the bottom of the 9th, Riley Greene gave us a final thrill with a homer to left, bringing the score to 7-5. But, strikeouts and groundouts closed out the game, ending our rally chances.Tough Loss
Final Score: 7-5 in favor of the Nationals. Despite the loss, there were some bright spots like Vierling and Greene’s homers. We just couldn't string enough hits together when it mattered most.Let's keep our heads up, Tigers fans! We have the talent; it's only a matter of time before it all clicks!
Scoreboard for Nationals @ Tigers (June 12th, 2024)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 2 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 1 |