Game 18

Justin Verlander heads to the mound today as the Tigers try to stop the bleeding and end their three game losing streak. Verlander might not be the best guy to turn things around as he is 1-4 with a 7.82 ERA vs. the White Sox in 5 career starts. His counter part for the White Sox though has not fared well this year in two of his three starts, giving up 10 earned runs on 12 hits. You also have to hope that Jim Leyland has them focused on today's game not the mini West Coast trip the Tigers leave for tomorrow. It looks like Leyland has chose to give Sheffield, Pudge, and Monroe the day off. I don't see how this line-up could of play any worse than the one yesterday.

Line-ups:
Detroit (9-8)
C Granderson CH
P Polanco 2B
O Infante DH
M Ordonez RF
C Guillen SS
M Thames LF
S Casey 1B
M Rabelo C
B Inge 3B

Chicago (9-7)
D Erstad CF
P Ozuna 2B
J Thome DH
P Konerko 1B
J Dye RF
A Pierzynski C
J Crede 3B
R Mackowiak LF
J Uribe SS

Pitchers:
Tigers - Justin Verlander (1-0, 1.42 ERA)
White Sox - Jon Garland (0-1, 4.66 ERA)

Post-game:

Tigers 6 White Sox 5 (12 innings)

Another extra inning game, this time a win. Today's game was almost a mirror image of yesterday's. The Tigers jumped out to an early lead, the bullpen relinquishes it,the the Tigers eventually falling behind. Just like Jose Contreras, Jon Garland was locked in after the first inning, retiring 18 straight before Carlos Guillen walked in the 7th. Sean Casey of all people was the first Tiger to get a hit since the 1st inning, two at bats after Guillen's walk. The ending was different his time as Marcus Thames took advantage of Bobby Jenks not being in the game and blasted a game tying 2 run shot with two out in the bottom of the ninth. Placido Polanco drove in first run of the game, and in the 12th inning he drove in the last with a single (what else?) allowing Pudge to score the winning run. There still are some things left to be desired in the way the Tigers played this game, and other recently, but a win is a win. Hopefully a win of this fashion can kick start another winning streak until they return home this weekend.

Tiger Hero:
Wil Ledezma and Jason Grilli. Ledezma had runners on 1st and 3rd with one out in the top of the ninth. He did what the Tigers bullpen hasn't been able to do lately, get outs with allowing runs. He got the double play to end the inning, allowed only two hits and a walk in the next two innings he pitched. Grilli came in a pitched a perfect 12th inning to get the win

Tiger Zero:
Tiger hitters inning 2-7. It would be nice to see the Tigers actually build on a lead after the first inning, and not have to rely the bullpen and late inning heroics.

Tigers Record:
W - L
10 - 8