With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, the Tigers had already scored a run and led 1-0. Joba seemed to be struggling with his control. Eiland had already been to the mound. And Miguel Cabrera, a former batting champion with power, a .380 hitter right now, a .444 hitter with the bases loaded, with two grand slams on his resume, a hulking, looming presence, stepped to the plate. This was a major confrontation.
Joba's first pitch was a change-up, floating over the outside corner for strike one. With a violent swing Cabrera fouled the next pitch straight back. Two pitches later the count was 2-2, but Cabrera seemed to be off-balance, looking uncomfortable with his check swing against a very nasty slider. In complete control, Joba looped a wicked curve over the plate that sunk from waist level to the feet. Cabrera swung mightily but caught only air. Strike three.
It kind of reminded me of the performances Wang used to have against David Ortiz. I've seen at bats where Wang simply owned him just like this, going inside and outside, making Ortiz look helpless, with Girardi in the announcer's booth, crowing, "rock the boat, back and forth, back and forth, and out."
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