The .500 mark has been a glass ceiling, or kevlar roof, for the Tigers this season. Finally, with a great all around effort against the Twins the Tigers are one game over .500.
Jeremy Bonderman had his best outing of the year throwing 80 strikes and only 27 balls in his first complete game effort of the season. When Bonderman did get into jams, his defense helped him out with a couple of great double plays and Pudge chipped in a pick-off and caught stealing.
While Bonderman was efficiently mowing down the Twins, Tiger hitters were making Kyle Loshe work. Loshe threw 105 pitches and didn’t make it through the 5th inning. Loshe averaged 4.6 pitches per batter.
Placido Polanco didn’t seemed phased by American League pitching as he picked up another 3 hits. As for tomorrow night, he has faced Joe Mays 3 times and has 3 singles.
More Good News
Justin Verlander made his AA debut, and he didn’t do to badly. For the night he threw 7 innings of one-hit ball striking out 11 hitters.
Even More Good News
Going even deeper in the Tigers organization, sort of, 5th round selection Jeff Larish tied a College World Series record by hitting 3 homers. He had an opposite field shot, a blast to right, and the 9th inning game-tying shot went to straight away centerfield.
It’s great to see the big number in the left-hand column!
Billfer I enjoy your toned down assessment of Verlander’s first AA game. Here’s the Freepress report:
MOVING UP: Justin Verlander, the Tigers’ top pick in 2004, made his Double-A Erie debut. Verlander, 9-2 with a 1.67 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 86 innings at Class A Lakeland, allowed one hit, struck out 11 and walked one in seven innings in a 12-0 victory over New Hampshire. The right-hander fanned the first seven hitters.
THE FIRST 7 HITTERS? 11 Ks and 1 hit in 7. Just silly, silly stuff. This kid may force himself into an August call-up.
Just plain giddy about that boy Verlander …
Really enjoyed watching Bonderman last night, though the play that sticks out in my mind is Inge’s stab-and-throw to double up the runner at first after his error had put the guy on in the first place.
I dont usually pay heed to a player’s “mind-set” or emotions or motivations or whatever, but that was one helluva good play, one pitch after he completely goofed on an easy grounder.
Justin Verlander certainly is looking like the real deal. But don’t forget about his current Erie teammate Joel Zumaya. Zumaya is only 20 years old and has fantastic stuff. He has always struggled with control, but the last month or so his control has been great while he is still striking out a ton of batters. I believe he’s still 2nd in all of the minors in Ks this year (121 in 88.1 IP).
In his last 7 starts, he has 47.1 IP, 1.52 ERA, 65 Ks, 15 BB, and 29 hits allowed. Not bad for a guy that is 2 years younger than Justin Verlander.