What a game. Detroit used eleven innings against the Houston Astros on a day game.

Dave Price pitched quite well, striking out 12 free-swinging Astros along the way. He ran into some trouble, though, in the seventh, to create the drama.

While Houston looked abysmal, the Tigers threatened often. However, the fruits of our labor were not being rewarded. We left men on base in the first inning, a haunting trend that still needs addressing. Brad Ausmus is relying too heavily on his all-stars to commit acts of heroism, and not cashing in walks or singles.

The scoreless game finally broke open upon a Nick Castellanos two-run shot. He’s heating up. The ensuing inning, we added an additional two runs after Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera RBI-ed with the bases loaded. Unfortunately, we stranded more one-out runners on a too complicated hit-and-run. Our offense supplied Price with a fifth run when Rajai Davis doubled home Yoenis Cespedes. And then we stranded Davis.

Price ran into that trouble in the 7th. It was truly just one triple that did him in. With no outs and a man on, the 3-bagger put them on the board. But then Price got two outs. Finally, the run scored on an infield hit up the middle, and Andrew Romine overplayed it on a throw into our dugout. That runner at second scored for a 5-3 comeback and the end of Price’s day.

Angel Nesbitt finished the seventh and Joba entered the 8th. A deep double past Rajai Davis made it 5-4. Luckily, Chamberlain ended the threat. We led off the bottom of the 8th with a double, but even after Cespedes stole 3rd on a wild pitch, no outs, we stranded him.

So, off to the 9th. Joakim Soria = $$, right? 1 out. Next batter, pinch-hitting rookie. Actually hits a home run to left field, tying it and stunning us in the final frame.

Our offense hadn’t got going for innings, but we would need one more run now. Fortunately, Alex Wilson guarded the tie game quite well. The 10th was butter, but a double was on in the 11th. Wilson got the final out in an inning of good Tigers defense.

James McCann led of the bottom of the 11th. First pitch, strike right down the middle. Next pitch, low-outside swinging strike. “The Can” collected himself, then awaited the 0-2. The righty swung on and belted a deep fly ball to left field… the outfielder made a flying leap, but the ball continued to carry beyond his glove and over the fence FOR A WALK-OFF GAME-WINNING HOME RUN! CYA!