PREGAME: For the second time in a little over a week the Tigers take a 5 game win streak into a series with the Angels. Last time this happened, the Tigers were shut out in two of their next 3 games. Here’s hoping for better results.
Nate Robertson will take his 14 inning scoreless streak into tonight’s game. He’ll have a tough time keeping that streak alive in the first inning as he will probably face Orlando Cabrera who is 5 for 5 lifetime against Nate, and possibly Vladimir Guerrero who is 7 for 10.
The Tigers will face former Tiger Jeff Weaver who is sporting a 7.48 ERA.
Interesting split of the day: The Tigers are 17-3 when scoring first. What is most impressive is that they have scored first in 20 of the 27 games.
Make sure to watch tonight, because the Tigers won’t be on TV again until Saturday.
POSTGAME: Well I managed a couple jinxes. Nate broke his scoreless string in the first inning, and the Tigers failed to score first. Fortunately, neither proved to be detrimental. This wasn’t the Tigers crispest game, but they still managed to eke it out. Magglio was doubled off when he misread the ball on a hit and run. Curtis Granderson was picked off first. Brandon Inge made an error on a routine play. The Tigers failed to score off of Santiago’s triple with no outs.
This was a very lose-able game for the Tigers, and yet they found a way to win. It’s one thing to win when everything is going your way, it’s another thing to win despite some mistakes.
And somehow everything Leyland does seems to work. Santiago triples, and Alexis Gomez picks up the game winning hit. Who knew?
Another thing to note, is this is the second time that Brandon Inge had a pivotal at-bat in which he probably should have been struck out, only to survive and change the game (the other being in Oakland).
One little factoid: that wild pitch by Nate Robertson was the team’s first since April 23rd.
Also of note…the Angels are ridng a 5 game losing streak and we will face niether Colon or Lackey.
Make sure to watch tonight, because the Tigers won
Great win. Come from behind…2 out RBI…closed it out clean.
Agreed. Six straight… very well done despite blowing Santiago on 3rd with no outs. Love having two closers, too.
Got to see the game here in SoCal tonite. A couple of thoughts:
Robertson was impressive. That 1st inning would have been a lot worse in the past, and he really had good command. He especially made Anderson look bad.
Weaver throws a gopher ball almost every game and it’s uncanny how it almost always happens: he gets mad over a close call and then he hangs a curve. I actually called it tonight. Inge really stung it. Leaving Santiago at third after no outs was discouraging. But last year they would have given up three runs the next inning.
Zumaya got away with a mistake to Anderson. It was the first pitch up to him all night and if he had pulled it just a little it’s out. Hopefully Hernandez is telling Zumaya how lucky he was.
I was not happy about Gomez hitting 2nd, so he just comes up with the clutch hit of the night, two outs against one of the best relievers in the AL. Way to go Alexis.
Vlad barely missed hitting Rodney’s first pitch out. Unlike Zumaya’s straight belt high cheese to Anderson, Rodney’s was rising as it came in. Vlad just got under it. In other words it was a good pitch, as was everything else Rodney threw. Filthy.
A crisply played game. One meaningless error by Inge. He more than made up for it with the dinger and the hustle play to beat the force at second in the 8th. The Angels have really been struggling. Let’s get another one off them tomorrow.
I echo what Tim is saying. Last year we would have used the mistakes and misfortune for excuses, now they seem to just keep their heads about them and find another way to win. It really is good to see this happen to the Tigers.
Does anyone notice how different it feels when you shut off the TV now?. Its kind of a strange feeling all these wins and good play isnt it?. My son who is too young to stay up to the end of teh game wakes up in the morning and says
“well Dad did they win?”
“yes”
“AGAIN”
“yep”
Great BLOG Bilfer and pretty good participation from every one. This is a fun part of my day.
Steve