A's Comeback

Tigers 7 @ Arlington 10 (Friday, July 7)
The Tigers stormed back from a 7-2 deficit with five runs in the seventh to tie it, only to surrender three in the eighth and lose at Arlington, 10-7. What really hurts is the Tigers gave up the fabled Red Helmet, which had been theirs since swiping it several years ago, then telling the A’s they had to win it back. The Tigers saw their six-game winning streak against Arlington end, a streak that dated back to July 18, 2002.

Mike Schultz started on the mound for the Tiger Train, and wasn’t his usual crisp self, lasting just four innings while giving up five runs (three earned). Dave Feldt came on in relief, and was tagged with the loss when a decent outing turned sour in the eighth. Arlington peppered four hits within five batters, giving them more than enough for the final 10-7 margin.

In between, Belle Plaine sent 11 men to the plate in the seventh and scored five runs, despite leaving the bases loaded. The Tigers also had a chance to plate the go-ahead run in the eighth, when Dave Kreft laced his fourth hit – a double – to lead off the inning. Kreft was sacrificed to third by Peter “Chicken Wing” Schuneman, but was subsequently thrown out at home trying to score on Ryan Dressen’s ground ball to third.

The Tigers once again brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, in the form of Ryan Witt, but he lined out to first to end the ballgame.

Aside from Kreft’s triumphant return to his former town of Arlington, Pat Schultz went 3-for-3 with a pair of walks. Adam Hoffman also drew an incredible four walks from the 2-hole, and the Tigers drew free passes eleven times in all.