Games 68 & 69

Yesterday MLB decided that I should watch the Mets-Rays and that was it. Mother Nature had other ideas and while it was raining in New York, I was treated to the debut of Alfredo Figaro. All things considered not a bad performance picking up his first carerr victory, and in my mind it immediately places him ahead of Armando Galarraga on the depth chart. Ryan Perry, well that's another story. June has not been kind to the rookie as he surrendered runs in his third straight appearance. His ERA in June and Robertsonian 9.00.

While the bullpen surrendered runs, the bats put them on the board. The heart of the order came up big with Cabrera, Thames, and Kelly going 9 for 14 and driving in in four. Josh Anderson also had a nice day going 3 for 4 and driving in two. Placido Polanco hit his 3rd HR of the season and passed the "on hiatus" Magglio Ordonez on the season total list.

As for today's game it was a battle of the aces, with Justin Verlander going up against Yovanni Gallardo. Verlander gave up a HR on the second batter of the game. He pretty much held the Brewer bats in check allowing only 3 more hits until Craig Counsell lead off the 8th with a home run. All in all he struck out 8 and allowed more than 1 run for the first time at home all season.

At first it looked like it might be another hard luck loss for a Tiger pitcher, as Gallardo was shutting down the recently potent Tiger offense. The Tigers did not get their first hit until a leadoff single by Miguel Cabrera in the 4th. They threatened in the 5th, with runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, but were unable to cash in. Again in the 6th the Tigers had a opportunity, with 2 on and 2 out, this time Brandon Inge knocked one of the few mistakes Gallardo made all day deep into the left field seats.

That would be all the runs the Tigers needed. Fernando Rodney recorded his 2nd perfect 9th inning in a row, after the near horror show of Thursday night. The Tigers pick-up the sweep and another game on Minnesota heading into tomorrow;s off day

Game 68
Tigers 9 Brewers 5
W: Figaro (1-0)
L: Bush (3-4)

Game 69
Tigers 3 Brewers 2
W: Verlander (8-3)
L: Gallardo (7-4)
S: Rodney (14)

Tigers Record
W - L
38 - 31
1st Place AL Central (4 games ahead of Minnesota)

Game 67

Billy Mays knows the power of Marcus Thames

The day started with news that had cigarette shops in the area cheering. It ended not with the typical Friday Night Fireworks, but with a light show from Mother Nature and explosions from Tiger bats.

Armando Galarraga struggled. Zach Miner did not. Why is Zach coming out of the bullpen again? A rain delay forced Armando out, which is probably for the best since Brewer bats would have probably done the same thing with more damage to the scoreboard.

Video review gave Miguel Cabrera a home run, and took one away from recently recalled Dusty Ryan. Both calls looked to be the right one. Marcus Thames has no need for close calls as he hit two home runs that probably caused the rain by tearing through a cloud. I think an even bigger story than the power outburst, is that 7 of the 10 runs were driven in with 2 outs. The lack of the big 2 out hit was a big reason for the losing skid this previous week.

Strains of "The Barber of Seville" should fill the CoPa tomorrow as Alfredo Figaro takes the mound for his MLB debut. I would love to watch it, but since it's one of the Fox 4pm games, I will more than likely be stuck watching whatever NL East team is playing. Stupid MLB Blackout rules, not letting me watch games on my computer.

Tigers 10 Brewers 4 (7 innings)
W: Miner (4-1)
L: Looper (5-4)

Tigers Record
W - L
36 - 31
1st Place AL Central (2 games ahead of Minnesota)

Game 66

So this is what a win looks like. With the current losing streak, and my being offshore, the last Tiger win that I witnessed was May 31st. Yikes.

Speaking of yikes, Fernando Rodney damn near gave the game away. Walking the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, putting the winning run at the plate, Rodney got a pitch over the plate and tricked Rick Ankiel into hitting into the game ending double play. Maybe Ankiel was having flashbacks of his own control issues, felt sorry for Rodney and bailed him out.

Look what we have here, more than 3 runs scored! The first three batters reached base, and the Tigers plated 4 in the Top of the first. Rick Porcello struggled at times, but that 4 run cushion was all he needed to pick up his team leading 8th win.

While Rodney had an unexcellent adventure in the 9th. Bobby Seay and Brandon Lyon (really?!?) pitched great in relief. The duo combined for only 2 baserunners in the 2.1 innings the pitched, and struck out 3.

Now Prince Fielder and the NL Central leading Brewers come into Detroit fresh off a sweep of Cleveland. A sweep in which they scored 30 runs. And the first two pitchers they face are Armando Galarraga, and a AA player making his MLB Debut...oh boy.

Tigers 6 Cardinals 3
W: Porcello (8-4)
L: Pineiro (5-8)
S: Rodney (13)

Tigers Record
W - L
35 - 31
1st Place AL Central (2 games ahead of Minnesota)

Game 65

The Tiger's Rally Car

Unlike the quick mercy killing of last night, tonight's game played out like a slow drawn out death.

And hey, wouldn't you know it, another bases loaded walk for a Tiger Pitcher. Zumaya's walk ended up being the run the Cards needed to stay ahead of the Tigers. Edwin Jackson gets saddled with the loss, which is unfair as he pitched well enough.

Curtis Granderson, Miguel Cabrera, and Brandon Inge seem to be the only Tigers able to hit it out of the infield lately, as they combined for 7 of the Tigers 9 hits. Is anyone else concerned that Adam Everett has as many home runs as Magglio right now? Even sadder for Maggs, with that number being 2.

Yet somehow the Tigers are managing to stay ahead in the monkey humping a football of a division called the AL Central. Let's hope Porcello is Italian for stopper, or this could be a loooong weekend for the Tigers.

Tigers 3 Cardinals 4
W: Wellenmeyer (6-6)
L: Jackson (6-4)
S: Franklin (16)

Tigers Record
W - L
34 - 31
1st Place AL Central (2 games ahead of Minnesota)

Game 64

Verlander struggled. Runners left on base. Nate Robertson.

I'm going to go look at my vacation photos, and think of happier times.

While I Was Out

Monday's tougher when you've spent the last week lounging on the beach

A week without the Internet isn't as tough as I thought it would be...especially when you're surrounded with view like the ones above.

When I left Jeremy Bonderman was hurt, Dontrelle Willis couldn't find the strikezone, and the offense was struggling. I guess I didn't miss much. Even better is the fact the lead in first has actually grown. If only the city of Pittsburgh hadn't wreaked havoc on Detroit teams, last week would have been 100% awesome.

So on to St. Louis, and to continued domination for Justin Verlander

Game 53

On a boat. On a boat...

I'll be leaving for Puerto Rico this weekend, as my wife and will be on a cruise around the Caribbean. Judging by the way the Tigers have been playing, maybe its for the best I'll be taking a vacation from them as well.

Another anemic performance from the bats, making a guy having a subpar season so far (Ervin Santana) look super. Maybe Santana and Zach Grienke (7 runs on 9 hits tonight) swapped bodies like in some wacky 80's movie starring Kirk Cameron.

Justin Verlander played the part of Tiger Tourniquet, stopping the bleeding with 8 innings of shutout baseball. But Fernando Rodney came in and blowed it up real good. Give the Tigers credit for not quitting, as the tying run was 90 feet away, but Curtis Granderson couldn't drive him in.

So off to vacation I go, hoping to still see the Tigers in first when I return.

Tigers 1 Angels 2
W: Santana (1-2)
L: Rodney (0-1)
S: Fuentes (15)

Tigers Record:
W - L
28 - 25
1st Place AL Central (2 games ahead of Minnesota)