49-44, 2nd place, 1.5 games back.
Your Tigers are now 5 games over for the first time since they were 10-5; or they are 39-39 over their last 78 games. Taking three out of four from a scorching hot Angels team is quite an accomplishment, but the kind of baseball that we’ve expected from the Tigers all season long. If you remove Turner’s start, here’s what the starters did:
Porcello: 5.2 8 H 5 ER 3 BB 5K
Fister: 8 IP 2 H 1 ER 2 BB 10 K
Scherzer: 7 IP 3 H 1 ER 4 BB 9 K
That’s a 3.04 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10.45 K/9. We’ll win a lot of baseball games with pitching like that.
I know that Porcello was shelled, but he’s going to be in the rotation through the rest of the season.
Look for defense to play a big role in this weekend’s series…the White Sox have only allowed 14 unearned runs all season, and are on pace to finish with the second fewest in a full season since 1920. The Tigers have allowed an AL worst 46 unearned runs this season, though they have not allowed any during this 10-2 run.
I predict that we take 2 out of 3. Verlander gears up for the division rival; Porcello gives up a few and Sale pitches a gem, then we win a wild one on Sunday as Jacob Turner loses all remaining trade value.
Tonight’s Running to a Meeting that Better End Before 6:05 PM Lineup:
1. Jackson, CF
2. Berry, LF
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Young, DH
6. Boesch, RF
7. Avila, C
8. Peralta, SS
9. Santiago, 2B
I think a pitcher’s duel, broken up by a walk off, pinch hit HR by Don Kelly would be just the thing to spoil their weekend.
I guess they are determined to punish the kid again on Sunday. Hopefully we get a decent start out of Porcello and the bullpen will be well-rested so Leyland can pull Turner before the damage becomes insurmountable. CHI definitely has the pitching edge on Saturday, so the finale is looking even more important. Why they would insist on a AA-grade work in progress to start in that situation is beyond me. They’re just crossing their fingers and chanting “We do believe, we do believe.” It looks like we are going to have to come up with a lot of big hits/and or sterling relief jobs this weekend.
Ah, the pitcher’s best friend keeps JV’s pitch-count down to 15.
Ah, the other pitcher’s best friend – 9 strikes, no contact – keeps Peavey’s pitch-count down to 11.
The Big Guys come through with a two out rally.
Verlander’s not hugely sharp tonight, but he’s getting the job done. I just saw a blurb on the boober that the Tigers have the same record now [49-44] as they did last year. I hope this team decides to ‘show up’ for the rest of the summer….like they did last year.
hey Jackson…have a year of this!
This is going well. But more importantly, Verlander is keeping the strikeouts down.
I wonder what excuse Smokey will make up for Geno for sending Miggy this time ….. or did Miggy go on his own?
It’s the Lamont Reverse Psychology Tactic: Cabrera was cramping, therefore he should run on contact, because that is exactly what one would think he shouldn’t do.
Miggy We Realize that
you were going on contact”’however does the least bit of common sense ever enter into the decision to go more than three steps?
He is a team player–he just saved Raburn from the runner-on-3rd-less-than-2-out strikeout embarrassment.
my gosh Rayburn batting for Kelly….can we save time and forfeit the out!
Raburn pinch-hitting for Kelly…good thing there is no LOLing in baseball…
Pleasant surprise actually. Raburn struck out swinging; usually he takes a called 3rd strike.
Raise your hand if you wish Verlander were coming out for the 9th instead of Valverde.
If they are going to stand pat with the starting rotation, and continue with the silly idea of a platoon at 2B, maybe they could at least improve the bench a bit. I mean, Raburn and Kelly, pleeez.
Agreed…their pinch-hit options are (and have been) pretty sad
I think their recent winning has lowered the probability of pulling the trigger on a big trade… but i still believe they’ll add a starting pitcher, but not one they’ll have to mortgage the farm (system) to get… and i think they’ll also bring in a mid-level infielder (along the lines of a Scutaro) as a 2B option
…and remember VMart is set to return late Aug/early Sept.
Loved QBert’s enthusiasm after the last out.
Well said Kevin…After many minor league years, Quinton is very appreciative and glad to be in the MLB! This is his summer as he helps push the Tigers into first place. I am glad to see it happen to someone like him!
BTW, my brother is ordering our Tigers v. Rangers tickets for next August. Will make all three games. Still owe you a beer while we watch batting practice!
Hey Kevin…looks like we will be on the third base side behind the Tiger dugout for the first two games. The Sunday game is an afternoon game so we will be somewhere under the right field porch. Hope to see you there!
ummm… starting to look like a winning team, How far is it from Detroit to Toledo, and how soon can RR leave ?