PREGAME: The Tigers return home after a 10 game trip. Tonight they’ll send out Justin Verlander, who has arguably been the best pitcher in the majors this year riding a 13 inning scoreless streak. Of course, the second best pitcher might be whoever is facing Verlander. The Tigers bats have mustered one run off Verlander opponents Jorge De La Rosa and Adam Loewen.
Tonight’s opponent will be much tougher in Zach Greinke. Greinke has posted a 12:1 K to walk ratio in his first 13 innings this year.
The wind is ridiculous tonight and will most assuredly be a factor. Let’s hope that the Tigers cope with it better than they did in their last home game.
Game Time 7:05
POSTGAME: The Tigers finally got that laugher they’d been waiting for. They took advantage of some Zach Greinke wildness (and an erratic strike zone) to set up a grand slam for Pudge Rodriguez in the first inning. Some bad defense and Greinke was chased in the first inning. In the end, the Royals burned out two of their relievers for the rest of the series tonight.
It was a big game for most of the offense, and everybody reached base at least once. Sean Casey got a gift double. Magglio Ordonez got lucky with a botched double play ball, but was later robbed of a hit by Jason LaRue. Everybody else had some hard hit balls, but Carlos Guillen and Pudge delivered the big blows.
Justin Verlander allowed more hard hit balls then he probably would have liked, but his 6 K’s helped limit the damage. Jose Mesa was asked to eat a couple of low pressure innings, and couldn’t even make it through an inning. By allowing 2 runs, it also prompted Jim Leyland to burn through Joel Zumaya making him unavailable tomorrow.
A terrific leadoff at bat by Granderson. Nine pitches, five foul balls, and finally a sharply hit ball to short for a single. What a tremendous improvement from last year.
If only Maggs would follow suit.
Grand Slam for Pudge!! Finally, finally, is this going to be the “routine” win we’ve all been waiting for?
We now have 3 grand slams. Not bad for a team that’s not hitting.
Did he really homer to center? Nobody hits it out to center…
If only the bats had gotten going like this in some of the other games. Oh well, what’s passed is passed and I will certainly take this.
And Greinke’s off to the showers. Once more we own the Royals. Ahh, I can feel my world righting itself as we speak.
Way to use the bilfer curse for the good of the team!!
Wow! 48 pitches in 2/3 of an inning. I feel sorry for the guy. Hopefully, we can beat up their bullpen and roll for the rest of the series.
“So much for that great pitching match-up,” laughs Rod Allen, as Greinke is pulled in the 1st.
That is huge for KC, to just get 1 IP out of your best starter.
Some VG ABs in that inning, and a rare (so far) big hit. I’ve been wrong bout Pudge so far.
And finally Justin gives one up.
No longer any thing routine about this. Do the Tigs lead the league in Grand Slams now?
So much for Granderson as a contact hitter. Well, baby steps.
See, these… these are the KC Royals I remember.
6 RBI’s for Pudge in the second inning. Yikes.
Some times it’s better to be lucky than good. 3 runs after an easy DP ball.
Yeah, Maggs is killing me.
You have to take what they give you, though, and Pudge has certainly done that.
Carlos. That’s my Tiger!
Good to see Carlos show the old pop.
No way a ball caroms that far after hitting him in the hand
Verlander better not pitch past the 6th. It’s a marathon.
Can we please just waive Mesa already?
Can someone please explain why we signed him?
To clarify, I wasn’t advocating taking out Verlander for this bum.
Haha! That’s just assumed Greg.
Joey, ………. hey Steve here. Hows it going?. Glad to see you are back.
Looks like Dan from last year got a longer suspension than Pac-Man. must have been your retort.
Seems like a nasty wind 58 degrees…………. ouch well lets put this in the books. Does it seem like we play K/C about 20 times this year. I am glad they are sub par.
Ok Z got them out. We are good from here
Steve
Mesa…sucks. Not like it’s a high-pressure situation, pitching in a 9-3 game. Now it’s 9-5. Let’s all remember the Toronto “blowout.”
Hey Adam, I was wondering where you were. You were in such a hurry to comment earlier today! 😀
And yeah, I can’t forget that Toronto game either.
Hey Steve,
I think that ban had everything to do with Billfer’s patience running out. I don’t know how it held out as long as it did.
You know, I live in Brooklyn. You ever make into NYC for a Yanks game?
I actually went out to play baseball around 7, since it was such a “nice” day. No feeling like coming back and finding out you missed a grand slam.
rooting for grilli to pitch the ninth
Joey,
We usually take 4 customers to either the Jake or Rogers ctr for a two gamer to see the Yankees. They are very popular in Rochester. Its a drive with an affordable dinner and overnite. Love to go to NYC but its a long drive and lots more cash.
I did promise my son a trip to Yankee stadium when he is older.
Lets hope Jonesy can close them out.
Steve
Would they bring Jones out if it’s not a save situation?
Speaking of saves, this may be the first Tigs victory so far this year that’s NOT a save. Knock wood, of course.
Uh oh, sounds like Rodney’s warming up. Not sure if i can keep listening.
Nice of Mesa to force us to burn through Zumaya and Rodney tonight. Zumaya pitched yesterday, so he’s unavailable tomorrow.
Of course Leyland didn’t have to use the pen this way anyways.
Um. So. People were talking about if three grand slams was a lot, or unusual or whatever.
Anyone know how many of them we had last year? Two.
As for right now, it’s three grand slams for eleven home runs.
Mario just said the franchise record was 10.
Check out the minor league wrap tonight, dominant pitching performances all the way throughout. Vasquez/Jurrjens/Miller/Nickerson.
Man and I thought that was going to be another one.
OK, it may be safe to bring in Rodney. Although, I’m with Colin–I’d rather see Grilli right now. He looked good on Saturday.
Rodney’s cool too–just didnt want to see zoom piling up innings vs. kc
Rodney’s probably a better choice here so he can get some work in
Rodney just makes my heart race when he comes in, and not in a good way. And man, you do hate to see Zoom used up in a game like this.
So. Didn’t someone say we started with a 7-7 record last year? Well, we’re already off to a better start than that at 8-5…worst we can be is 8 and 6. Hehe.