No truth to the rumor Lieber is moonlighting as fielding coach for Detroit pitchers
October 27 2006

And you thought the Phillies had troubles with fielding by their pitchers.  The Detroit Tigers got an error from their pitcher for the fourth time in four World Series games last night.  Four proves to be too many and the error of their ways has the overdog Tigers suddenly in a huge hole and looking up at a St Louis team that won just 83 games and limped into the playoffs.  Whatever is ailing Detroit's hurlers apparently needs to be quarantined -- it looks like it's spreading and it may be too late to save the outfield.

The Cardinals beat the Tigers last night, winning 5-4 to take a three games to one lead in the World Series.  They will try to end the series tonight in St Louis. 

Jeff Suppan started for the Cards and allowed three runs over six innings.  Jeremy Bonderman went for the Tigers and was charged with two runs on six hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings.

The Tigers went up 1-0 on a solo home run by Sean Casey and extended their lead to 3-0 with RBI singles from Casey and Rodriguez in the top of the third.   Eckstein doubled in a run in the bottom of the third to make the score 3-1, and a double by Yadier Molina the next inning cut the lead to 3-2.  Eckstein led off the seventh with a fly ball to center field that Granderson would likely have caught if he had not fallen down -- it went for a double.  So Taguchi tried to bunt Eckstein to third, but Detroit reliever Fernando Rodney threw wildly to first, allowing Eckstein to score and tie the game at 3-3.  The Cardinals took a 4-3 lead when Preston Wilson's single knocked in Taguchi.  Detroit tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the eighth on Brandon Inge's double.  Eckstein came up against flamethrower Joel Zumaya in the bottom of the eighth with a runner on second and two down and a chance to be the hero.  And hero he was.  He smoked a ball into left-center that went off the glove of a diving Craig Monroe, driving in the run that put the Cards up 5-4.  Adam Wainwright set Detroit down 1-2-3 in the ninth. 

Eckstein was 4-for-5 on the night and drove in two of the Cardinals runs.  Edmonds and Pujols combined to go 0-for-6 with four strikeouts, though Pujols walked twice.  Rolen was 2-for-4 with two doubles and is now 7-for-16 (.438) in the World Series and leads all players on both teams with 13 total bases.  The St Louis pen has been charged with one run on three hits and two walks in eight innings.

The four runs the Tigers scored was their biggest offensive output of the series.  Sean Casey had a big night, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.  Ivan Rodriguez finally got some hits, he was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.  Curtis Granderson is 1-for-18, though.  Polanco 0-for-14.  Magglio Ordonez is 2-for-15 (.133).  Monroe is 0-for-9 in the last two games after going 3-for-7 with a double and two home runs in the first two.  Carlos Guillen is hitting, he's 6-for-13 with three walks, but there's not a lot of ducks to drive in.  He has just two RBI.  Three of the four starts the Tigers have gotten have been pretty good but their pen has been charged with seven runs in 10 2/3 innings, only two of which have been earned.

Justin Verlander faces Jeff Weaver tonight at the Cardinals try to close it out.  Verlander struck out eight in five innings against the Cards in Game 1, but St Louis tagged him for seven runs on six hits and two walks.  Rolen and Pujols both homered off of him and the Cardinals won the game 7-2 behind Anthony Reyes.  Weaver started Game 2, which the Cardinals lost 3-1 as Kenny Rogers held them to two hits over eight shutout innings.  Weaver allowed three runs on nine hits and a walk over just five innings.  Monroe homered against him and Guillen had a double and a triple.

In the Arizona Fall League, the Phoenix Desert Dogs topped the Saguaros 7-6 in 11 innings.  Jason Jaramillo was the designated hitter for Peoria and went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.  Phoenix DH Chip Cannon hit two home runs, giving him an AFL-leading seven.  Elijah Dukes homered in the top of the 11th to put Phoenix ahead.

Fabio Castro made his debut with Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League on Wednesday.  He allowed two unearned runs in three innings, giving up two hits and a walk.  At least the Phillies get to put the 21-year-old in the minors this year.

An article in the New York Post about where Gary Sheffield might wind up seems to focus on most everyone except the Phillies. 

Bruce Bochy now, not Terry Francona, not Ken Macha, will manage the team of MLB players that will play a five-game series in Japan November 3-8.  Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are expected to play in the series.  Francona had to pull out with a foot problem.

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