While the Ryan Raburn error was terribly frustrating. And the Scott Sizemore error made you think, “c’mon, they’re not even in that God forsaken dome and this stuff keeps happening.” This game was all about Francisco Liriano.
Liriano spotted the fastball to both sides of the plate. He froze Tigers hitters with back door sliders and had them flailing at regular sliders that dove at their back foot. Six of the Tigers ten strike outs were off the backwards K variety. They couldn’t even muster a swing.
Credit where credit is due, Liriano put on a clinic an deserved to win.
On the other side Justin Verlander was better. He didn’t walk a batter not named Jim Thome while fanning 7 including victimizing Justin Morneau 3 times. He deserved to get out of the 6th were it not for the Raburn error, but it would have been his final batter regardless with a pitch count of 121.
At least this time out it wasn’t stuff lacking, just efficiency.
- On a night when 12 of the 27 Tigers outs came on strikeouts, Austin Jackson didn’t have a single one while drawing the only walk, thus ending the 20 game streak. I love baseball irony.
- Johnny Damon kept the hit streak alive.
- Fu-Te Ni came into a bases loaded situation and got a come backer to the mound and managed to go 2.1 more innings. He picked up 2 more walks and benefitted from a wide strike zone (just ask Denard Span) but the end result is that he was able to “reset” the bullpen by staying out that long.
- Eddie Bonine didn’t have it after being so effective and critical to the team’s win on Saturday.
- For all the talk about the Twins doing things the right way and manufacturing runs and what not, they did strand a lead off triple with their 2-3-4 hitters up. I’m just saying, it happens.
- Disappointing to see the Tigers play so poorly on defense regardless. In addition to the 3 errors I’d argue that Ordonez didn’t take a great route to Span’s triple. I don’t know if he would have got it, but it appeared if he angled back he may have had a better shot.
The Twins look fantastic so far this year. Right now, I don’t think we’ll keep up with them unless they have more injuries. As it stands right now, we have a better chance at winning the wildcard than the division.
On the bright side, the Red Wings won game 7. That was a nice way to end the night.
I like the April in D stuff much better this year. Last year it was very annoying, but this year I’ll probably miss it.
Yeah, that was a game where you just tip your hat and move on. I’m slightly worried about Sizemore defense, although it’s still his first month. Oh wise Bilfer, what was the scouting reporting on Sizemore’s defense coming into the season? Was his rep more offensive-minded?
Yes. Sizemore’s report says adequate defense, plus bat.
Yes, stepehen. He committed quite a few errors playing 2nd base compared to what we are used to. Way more than what we are used to.
It’s hard to beat a pitcher like Liriano when they are hot as even the gods are with them and they beat you on unearned runs.
For what it’s worth, I was at all four Tigers v. Rangers games. A few things about the Tigers that I noted was:
A. Damon seems to be a leader on and off the field. Cool, calm, collected, and respected. That should rub off elsewhere with good payoff.
B. Before every game Leyland came out and signed autographs.
C. Jackson was playing in his home stadium as is from Denton north of DFW. It was great to see his first homerun and the ball as thrown back on the field for his trophy case. While I hadn’t picked up such mannerism on TV, his play reminds me much of Granderson in his rookie season and it looks like he will grow much.
D. Watching Boesch play his first game was a pleasant surprise. However I still wish for a speedy Guillen recovery. He looks young enough that he should be collecting money for parking at the Arlington ballpark.
E. Watching him warm up, Porcello looked cool, calm, and confident before his start. I hope he pitches out of his problems or he may be headed for a stint in Toledo.
We took our three exchange students to their first MLB game. At the first game, one of them caught a foul ball off Damon in the 8th inning. (In my 55 years, I have been to over 200 MLB games and never a foul ball!) During the series, he got Jackson’s, Ordonez’s, Leyland’s and Boesch’s autograph on the ball. What an easy game!
The end of June we are headed to Atlanta for the weekend series with the Braves. I hope starting pitching will be better!
Great post man. Sounds like you had fun!
Poor Nate Robertson. He had another not so Great performance.
It hasn’t been a good April for most of the former Tiger hurlers.
Nate Robertson 5.18 ERA
Edwin Jackson 6.67 ERA
Jair Jurrjens 5.48 ERA
Brandon Lyon 6.00 ERA
The cream of the crop:
Fernando Rodney 3.38 ERA
That gift certificate to Wal-Mart that we got in exchange for the lot of them is looking better and better with each passing day. I think we should use it to buy a Snuggie.