Going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position isn’t a recipe for success.
Since sweeping the White Sox from Aug. 31-Sept. 2, the Tigers have been tamed at the plate:
Sept. 3: Lost 2-3 vs. Clev
Sept. 4: Lost 2-3 vs. Clev
Sept. 5: Won 7-1 vs. Clev
Sept. 7: Lost 2-3 at LAA
Sept. 8: Lost 1-6 at LAA
Sept. 9: Lost 2-3 at LAA
Sept. 10: Lost 1-6 at CWS
That’s 17 runs in seven games. And even before the three-game sweep of the White Sox, they were swept by the Royals in a series that included a 1-0 loss to Bruce Chen and a 2-1 loss to Jeremy Guthrie.
The Tigers are badly in need of someone besides Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder to step it up. Delmon Young’s big weekend against the White Sox was apparently just that. The Tigers need at least two from the group of Andy Dirks, Jhonny Peralta, Brennan Boesch and Alex Avila to provide some consistent production in the bottom half of the order.
Of course, the Tigers have three more games against the White Sox this week, giving them the chance to quickly erase that three-game AL Central lead. However, the fact that they couldn’t get anything going against a fading Jose Quintana tonight doesn’t bode well for their chances.