23 Year Old Rookie Mike Olt Gets 1st Career Walk-Off Hit.
Heading into Saturdays game, Rangers pitcher and reigning AL MVP, Justin Verlander was looking to avoid his first 3-game road loosing streak in over 4 years. Verlander pitched 7 solid innings allowing only 1 run with 8 strikeouts and 7 hits. Tigers pitcher, Derek Holland who had an ERA of 4.92 and a 6-6 record, out-pitched Verlander this game only allowing 3 hits and 1 run with 9 strikeouts.
Fast-forwarding to the top of the 9th, with the game still tied at 1 and after back-to-back walks with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder; DH hitter Delmon Young grounded a single to right field loading the bases with only one out. This prompted Tigers skipper, Jim Leyland to bring in Brennan Boesch and pinch-hit for Jeff Baker but he grounded to first for a force out at home. With the bases still loaded and now 1 out left in the inning, shortstop Jhonny Peralta would fly out into center-field but Josh Hamilton would track it down for the catch getting Mike Adams out of the Jam.
In the bottom of the 9th, Tigers pitcher Brayan Villarreal walked both Nelson Cruz and Michael Young to start the inning. Villarreal was relieved for the night by Phil Coke who would get Craig Gentry to fly-out and strikeout Geovany Soto. Rangers skipper, Ron Washington would sub-in rookie Mike Olt to pinch-hit for Mitch Moreland. With only 1 out remaining, the rookie Olt would single into right bringing in Cruz for his first career walk-off hit and third career hit.
For the rubber match-up today at 3PM ET, wet get to see Rangers ace Yu Darvish (11-8) and Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello (9-6) for this very important game for both teams. Some could say this game means more to the Tigers who are in an extremely tight wildcard race; but the Rangers who take a red-eye flight to NY immediately after the game to start a crucial series against the AL leading Yankees Monday and a win here today is very needed to keep their division distance. Rangers hold a 5 1/2 game lead over the Athletics in the AL west and are a 1/2 game back of the AL leading Yankees. Rangers now lead the season series 6-3 heading into today’s final game today against the Tigers.