Game 1
4-3 Tigers
WP: Bryan Garcia (2-0)
LP: Kirby (8-5)
SV: Chafin (3 Saves)
Game 2
7-6 Mariners (10 innings)
WP: Torrens (1-0)
LP: Soto (2-10)
Game 3
9-6 Mariners
WP: Sheffield (1-0)
LP: El. Rodriguez (0-4)
Game 4
5-4 Mariners
WP: Swanson (3-2)
LP: Gregory Soto (2-11)
The Tigers finished out the season against a playoff team and although the Mariners rested some of their players, Detroit held their own for the most part. The record in this series shows Seattle winning three of four, but what it doesn’t show is that the Tigers fought to the end of every game. They win in the first game, then in game one of the doubleheader, the Tigers and Mariners traded runs and went to extra innings where Gregory Soto let the faithful down once again. In the second game of the doubleheader, the Tigers traded runs with the Mariners until the bullpen fell apart, and in the last game of the season the Tigers were tied heading into the bottom of the ninth, but once again Soto blows it.
This season began with such high hopes for Tigers fans. When your owner declares a rebuild over and the franchise was ready to win to then begin the season 14-26 in their first 40 games (the measuring stick all true Tigers fans know about).
The Tigers (66-96) move into the offseason with many questions from top to bottom. Who will new President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris name as the Tigers new GM? Which coaches will be retained and which let go? Who on the current team will be back next season? Who, if anyone, can the Tigers front office convince to come to Detroit? The off-season begins and it’s the same old same old for Tigers fans…wait ‘til next year.
David Masters