Tigers 4, Orioles 3, Alfredo pitches well, Vladi doesn't run well

On the final Friday of the 2011 season, the Detroit Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 in 11 innings in front of many people in Detroit.  The Orioles wasted a strong performance from the inconsistent Alfredo Simon, as he pitched 8 innings, giving up 3 earned runs on six hits and 1 walk, while striking out 5.

The Orioles started the scoring of Rick Porcello, as JJ Hardy scored on a two out double by Vlad Guerrero.  Over this week I've become convinced that Vlad has some bizarre clause where his salary doubles if he records 2 triples.  He means well, he was thrown out at 3rd on a 9-4-2-5.  Other than a contract incentive, why else would he be the third out at third base again?  I suppose nobody is who they used to be.  Anyway, staked to a one nil lead, the lead wouldn't last, as Miguel Cabrera dropped a 2 run bomb in the bottom of the first.  The Birds would battle back in the top of the 3rd, scoring two runs.  Robert Andino and Hardy would hit consecutive infield singles.  The runners moved up a base on a sacrifice fly, and Nick Markakis would drive in Andino on a sacrifice fly.  Following an unproductive Guerrero groundout, Matt Wieters would notch a two out RBI single bringing in Hardy.  In the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers would tie the game up after leadoff double from Jhonny Perarlta and a run scoring single from someone named Ramon Santiago.  

The game would move quickly along with few scoring opportunities until the eleventh inning.  In the visitor's half, Nick Markakis would smoke a ball into the right field corner for a double.  Guerrero was walked intentionally as if there were any other way, and the Orioles were in some business.  But Wieters would hit into a double play and Adam Jones would ground out to short, leaving it to the home half of the eleventh for some drama.  With Willie Eyre on the mound, Brandon Inge would draw a walk.  Delmon Young popped out to Wieters, but Miguel Cabrera would single on an 0-2 count, moving pinch runner Danny Worth to second.  Zach Phillips would relieve Eyre, but didn't fare much better as VIctor Martinez would line a shot that Brooks Robinson could have snared but Chris Davis did not, and Worth easily scored from second.  Orioles lose, 4-3.