The Tigers first interleague series of the year certainly wasn’t lacking in drama. After a rough outing by Jeremy Bonderman on Friday, the Tigers pieced together a couple of late inning rallies to secure back-to-back one run victories. What’s more is that they did it in front of 100,000+ enthusiastic fans.

In what has been a rare occurence this year, the Tigers were out-slugged by an opponent. But really, the two offenses were pretty comparable. The Tigers defense just converted more balls in play into outs.

Stuff of Note

• The Tigers continue to torch left handed pitchers. In the series they hit to the tune of 344/385/508.
• While the Tigers have had a ton of production from the bottom of the order, it didn’t happen in this series, and the drought continued to the top. The 8-9-1 hitters managed only 4 hits and a walk over the 3 games.
• That homer that Joel Zumaya gave up to Griffey was good for a -50% win probability added. For the WPA graphs for the series. Going the other way, Curtis Granderson posted a +48.5% largely on his game tying homer. For more WPA info, here are the graphs for Saturday and Sunday’s games.

Series Studs

• Ummm, maybe Curtis Granderson? While he only managed one other hit besides the 9th inning homer, I don’t think you could ask for more.
• Magglio Ordonez posted a 545/583/818 line with 3 RBI.
• Marcus Thames continues to perform when given the opportunity. A homer was one of 3 hits Thames picked up in 6 at bats (he added a walk also).
• Chris Shelton appears to be back. While only one of his 7 hits was for extra bases, he had 7 hits!
• Fernando Rodney retired 5 hitters and picked up two wins. He and Jamie Walker both appeared in two games and allowed one hit between them.
• Nate Robertson continues to walk people, and not allow them to score. He complimented his 5 free passes with 7 K’s, and managed to pitch out of very tough situations.

And those who struggled

• Jeremy Bonderman turned in one of the few clunker outings that we’ve seen from the starting rotation. He constantly fell behind. Seven hits, 3 walks, and a HBP in 3 2/3 makes for a bad night.
• Joel Zumaya of course will always remember the night he faced Ken Griffey Jr., but not fondly. It wasn’t so much the pitch to Junior, but the walk prior to it.
• Brandon Inge didn’t get a hit in the 3 games
• Carlos Guillen was 1 for 11, and picked up a throwing error.
• Dmitri Young continues to be lost at the plate. He reached base once via a walk, and fanned 3 times with no hits.