Toledo 8 Louisville 7
Is Chris Shelton getting his power stroke back, or is it just a couple good games? He went yard again today and added a single. Brent Clevlen was a triple short of the cycle, and that homer was his first of the year. Ron Chiavaccie allowed 5 runs on 8 hits and 5 walks in 5 1/3 innings. Eulogio De La Cruz allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks in 2/3 of an inning.
Erie 7 Akron 5 10 innings
Erick Almonte went 4 for 5. Matt Joyce was a triple short of the cycle. Roman Colon is apparently on work release and allowed 2 runs on 2 homers in 2 2/3 innings as the starter.
Lakeland 6 Sarasota 7 10 innings
Mike Hernandez homered twice to lead the way. Wil Rhymes had 2 hits and 2 walks. Danny Worth made his debut and went 1 for 4 with a walk. Lucas French allowed 3 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings. Kyle Sleeth allowed a run on no hits and 3 walks in 2 2/3 innings.
Great Lakes 5 West Michigan 1
Brennan Boesch and Santo De Leon each had 2 hits. Lauren Gagnier allowed 4 runs, only 2 earned, in 7 2/3 innings while fanning 7.
Oneonta 0 Hudson Valley 8
Kody Kaiser was 0 for 4 with 2 K’s. Weird. Cory Middleton had the only extra base hit. Sendy Vasquez wasn’t good with 5 hits and 6 walks in only 4 innings.
GCL Tigers 3 GCL Braves 11
Londell Taylor went 1 for 3 with a walk. It was his second hit of the season so that had to be a relief. Luis Arlet added 2 hits. Emmanuel Miguelez started and allowed 4 earned runs on 6 hits, no walks, and no K’s in 2 innings.
Category Archives: 2007 Season
Game 85: Red Sox at Tigers
PREGAME: The Tigers look to extend their winning streak to 4 games tonight and they’ll send Jeremy Bonderman to the mound to do it.
Bonderman is coming off the stellar 8 inning shut out performance from Sunday night. He hasn’t faced Boston this year, but he did out duel Curt Schilling last year in Boston. It was a great win, but also the game that cost the Tigers Placido Polanco.
Kason Gabbard will be making his 3rd start of the season. He has struck out more than a batter an inning in that sting, but he has also walked 10 in his last 2 starts.
BOS @ DET, Saturday, July 7, 2007 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com
Game Time 7:05pm
POSTGAME Didn’t it have to be number 7 Pudge Rodriguez with the walk off double on 7/7/07? Just a tremendous game tonight, and unlike the extra innings Cleveland game the good guys won.
- It’s pretty remarkable that the Tigers held the Red Sox scoreless for 12 innings. Bonderman and the Tigers bullpen turned in an incredible effort. If it weren’t for that pesky first inning.
- Although it’s hard to comment too much on it because we didn’t see it. Instead we were held captive by Fox’s national coverage.
- I’m tickled for Craig Monroe. He picked up Marcus Thames and knocked in 2 runs. He also laid down a nice sacrifice bunt in the 10th inning. Sure he popped up in the 11th with the bases loaded, but he was hardly alone.
- I was really rooting for the Tigers to score the winner off of Okajima. The symmetry of the Tigers cashing in on the guy that kept Bondo out of the All Star game on a night when Bondo started would have been sweet. Oh well. I guess we’ll just have to settle for scoring off of Jonathan Papelbon instead.
- The Tigers were flirting with disaster walking Ortiz to get to Manny that many times, but it paid off.
- Big time props to the whole cast of characters in the pen. Todd Jones has been great on this homestand and even had success in the 2nd inning of work tonight.
- The only downside is that the Tigers will trot out the B lineup tomorrow. Pudge will certainly get the day off, and Placido Polanco is day to day with an oblique issue. At least they’ve already taken the series.
Tigers 3, Red Sox 2
Tigers Minor League Wrap – 7/6/07
Louisville 1 Toledo 2
Jordan Tata pitched 7 innings of 3 hit ball. No runs crossed the plate and he walked just 2 while fanning 4. Eulogio De La Cruz pitched one inning allowing a hit and a walk. Brent Clevlen rejoined the team and walked twice. Kevin Hooper had the only multi hit game and Jack Hannahan hit his 10th homer.
Erie 2 Reading 4
This was the resumption of a suspended game. Steve Torrealba had 2 hits including his 6th homer. Andrew Kown started and allowed 3 runs over 4 innings and Anthony Tomey finished allowing 1 run in 4 innings.
Erie 1 Reading 2
Matt Joyce homered, one of only 5 hits for the Seawolves. Dallas Trahern pitched a complete game (6 innings) allowing only 2 hits and 3 walks against 4 K’s.
Lakeland – PPD
Fort Wayne 2 West Michigan 10
Joe Tucker and James Skelton each had a hit and 2 walks. Santo De Leon had 3 hits and 4 RBI. Gorkys Hernandez went 2 for 5 and Deik Scram had 3 walks. Duane Below allowed 3 hits and 2 walks in 6 shut out innings.
Lowell 3 Oneonta 11
It seems every Oneonta game I begin with the feats of Kody Kaiser. Tonight is no different with 2 homers and a double. Casper Wells had 2 doubles and a homer. Justin Henry had 2 hits and 3 walks. Heck, pretty much every body raked in this game.
GCL Tigers 4 GCL Indians 7 (completed after 7 due to rain)
Carlos Ramirez had 2 hits and Luis Arlet went 1 for 3. Dario Carvajal allowed 3 runs on 4 hits in 5 innings.
Minors News
Cameron Maybin will be on the shelf for 2 weeks due to a shoulder injury sustained while trying to make a diving catch. He’s had an MRI and the injury is deemed not serious but it will keep him out of the futures game.
Game 84: Red Sox at Tigers
PREGAME: Both the Tigers and Red Sox spent yesterday thumping their opponents. The Sox are coming off a sweep of the Devil Rays and carry a 4 game winning streak into tonight’s tilt.
The Tigers managed to take only 1 of the 4 games the two teams played in Boston, and will hope to head into the All Star Break by winning back to back series.
Tonight will feature Andrew Miller taking on Julian Tavarez. The Tigers were handled by Tavarez who had been struggling at the time when the two team met up in May. In his last 7 starts Tavarez has posted a 3.48 ERA with a decent walk rate but pedestrian K-rate. He hasn’t allowed a homer in his last 4 starts.
The Tigers will send out Andrew Miller. Miller was knocked around in his last start, but showed a little more than that. He mixed in more off speed pitches and induced some swings and misses. In the end though, 6 of the 8 baserunners he allowed crossed the plate.
The only lineup note I know at the moment is that Mike Rabelo will start in lieu of Pudge Rodriguez. Not sure who will be starting in left field tonight: it will be Marcus Thames. And as a final note, Vance Wilson was transferred to the 60 day DL to make room for Ryan Raburn.
BOS @ DET, Friday, July 6, 2007 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com
Game Time 7:05pm
POSTGAME: I’ve been critical of the Tigers decision to keep Andrew Miller in the rotation because I’ve felt that he needed more time to develop his secondary pitches. I wanted him to explode on the scene like Justin Verlander did last year and be dominating. Tonight is a glimpse of what I was hoping for. This was by far his best start as he shut down an offense that is good even without Big Papi. He used his breaking pitches and change to fan Manny Ramirez a couple times which was probably the most impressive part.
If he can pitch that well, or even close to that well on a consistent basis I’ll be more than happy to be wrong.
The other big performer was Marcus Thames who hit 3 balls far enough to be homers, but only one of them was the right direction. Fortunately it was the one with the bases loaded as Thames was the 5th different Tiger to hit a slam this year.
- How about Placido Polanco running hard on a pop-up with 2 outs in the 8th inning of a 7 run game and legging out a double?
- The Tigers looked miserable the first time through the order with only one ball making it to the outfield. But the next couple times the Tigers were ripping the ball all over the park.
- Miller did get some help with a remarkable throw from Granderson and tag by Rabelo. He kept the throw low, but it never bounced and Rabelo was able to catch it clean.
- I don’t mind Gene Lamont sending Mike Rabelo on the play he was thrown out on. I think that Lamont has really been a little too conservative this year and in those 2 out situations I’m in the camp of making the other team make the play.
Neifi Perez suspended 25 games
The Ryan Raburn roster spot mystery has been cleared up. He’ll take Neifi Perez’s spot as Perez was suspended 25 games by MLB for use of a banned stimulant. This is according to WXYT.
So first it was Alex Sanchez, and now Neifi Perez getting nabbed by drug screens. I really didn’t see this one coming.
I am a little surprised (not disappointed mind you) they called up Ryan Raburn to fill Perez’s role instead of Ramon Santiago. Santiago held the same duty last year and is already on teh 40 man roster. Plus, while Raburn was formerly an infielder he has been working exclusively in the outfield this year. My guess is that Omar Infante is now the primary infield back-up and Raburn will serve as Granderson’s platoon partner in centerfield with occasional spot duty at 2nd base.
Ryan Raburn to the Tigers?
There is some scuttlebutt that Ryan Raburn has gotten the call. At least that is what he told reporters after the Mud Hens game tonight.
I’m not sure who he’s replacing. While Craig Monroe has been struggling a ton, I can’t imagine him being out except for injury – of which there’s been no indication. Perhaps a trade has been made? I just don’t know.
The Tigers also need a spot on the 40 man roster for Raburn. I’d presume that Vance Wilson would be transferred to the 60 day DL to accomodate Raburn.
For Toledo, Raburn has certainly been raking posting a 292/394/540 line with 17 homers.
Game 83: Indians at Tigers
PREGAME: For the first time in 3 series the Tigers enter the last game of a set without the risk of being swept. It sure would be nice to pick up a win today, and a series win before Boston comes to town.
There is quite the pitching match-up this afternoon as 2 All Stars, C.C. Sabathia and Justin Verlander face off.
Game Time 1:05pm
CLE @ DET, Thursday, July 5, 2007 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com
POSTGAME: And what do you know, the Tigers have won 3 of their last 4. It’s amazing how 2 little wins can change the mood. Then again, 2 little losses to the Rangers pretty much wiped out all the good will of an 8-1 road trip.
The Tigers put a thumping on the Tribe and have now won 4 of the last 5 after dropping the first 5 to the Indians.
Sabathia clearly didn’t have it today. He was wild in the first inning and was leaving the ball up in the zone. Fortunately he never settled in, and the Tigers kept the pressure on until Sabathia had hurled 87 pitches in 4 innings.
Justin Verlander was mostly dominant, including a streak of 4 straight strike outs in the 4th and 5th innings. He also didn’t walk anyone, marking his first game with out a free pass since May 15th
- Magglio Ordonez had his first big game in awhile. His 3 hits pushed him back ahead of Ichiro for the batting title. His RBI was the first since June 22nd and the double was the first since June 19th.
- Bonus Maggs info: he’s one walk short of matching his total from last season.
- Placido Polanco was using a new bat today, and was good enough for 3 hits including a homer.
- Craig Monroe got a hit. It was a bloop hit, but there was considerable relief on his part – and a little bit of justice after he hit the ball very well his first time up. Of course Marcus Thames reached base twice and was subbed out for defensive purposes in the 5th inning. No word yet on if Thames or Monroe will start tomorrow.
Tigers Minor League Wrap – 7/4/07
Columbus 4 Toledo 5
Mike Hessman was a triple short of the cycle. Kevin Hooper added 3 hits and Timo Perez chipped in 2. Virgil Vasquez allowed 4 hits and no walk in 6 1/3 innings fanning 6.
Erie 4 Reading 5
Jeff Larish homerd, singled and walked twice. Kody Kirkland and Nick McIntyre also had 2 hits and a walk. Matt Righter started and went 5 innings allowing 5 runs on 8 hits, including 2 homers. Randor Bierd pitched 3 innings of relief allowing 3 hits and fanning 5.
Lakeland PPD
West Michigan 5 Fort Wayne 4
Gorkys Hernandez tripled and homered. James Skelton and Scott Sizemore both had mutli-hit games. Matt O’Brien allowed 4 runs on 7 hits, 1 walk, and 4 K’s in 7 innings of work.
Oneonta PPD
GCL Tigers 0 GCL Yankees 1
Joaquin Guzman and Brent Clevlen (is it me or is this a really lengthy lower minors rehab stint?) had the only hits for the Tigers. Aaron Furhman allowed just 3 hits and 1 run with 6 K’s in 5 innings.
GCL Yankees 3 GCL Tigers 6
Derek Lehrman homered and singled. Brent Clevlen had 2 hits. Londell Taylor continues not to hit. He’s now 1 for 25. With only 5 strikeouts he is batting .050 on balls in play, I’d guess that part of it is a little bad luck. Charles Furbush allowed 3 runs on 4 hits, no walks, and 4 K’s in 3 innings.
Game 82: Indians at Tigers
PREGAME: Happy 4th of July. The Tigers kick off the second half of the season tonight.
It’ll be Jake Westbrook and Kenny Rogers on the mound.
CLE @ DET, Tuesday, July 4, 2007 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com
Game Time 7:05 pm
POSTGAME: Now that I’m back in town, I’ll comment on the last 2 games.
First of all the extra inning loss was a heart breaker, but I thought it was a fascinating game to watch. There was the Hafner/Pudge interference/not in the batters box debate which FSN captured brilliantly. There was the Betancourt issue and again FSN picking it up right away (were they tipped as well?). There was the back and forth of the game. There was a clinic in the advantages and disadvantages of playing no-doubles-depth. But in the end the Tigers lost a tough one so you look for someone to blame.
The bullpen is a typical culprit, but they collectively did pretty well save for 2 homers. Jose Capellan looked awesome for the first 5 batters he faced, and really if Carlos Guillen had come through in the 10th that 11th inning homer would have never happened.
So is it Guillen’s fault? He didn’t have the best at-bat but did deliver a bases loaded single earlier in the game so it’s hard to not call him clutch. With some other non-clutch performances by the rest of the offense maybe they aren’t in extra innings in the first place.
But even then, the Tigers hitters blasted some balls that just turned into outs. Magglio Ordonez had an awesome at-bat that ended in a deep drive to left center. Curtis Granderson hit a rocket to the wall to start the 10th. Pudge Rodriguez hit a deep drive that landed just foul. It’s not like they were flailing hopelessly.
In the end it was just a loss. Nobody was to blame. Of course it’s easier to say that 24 hours later after a win…
Of course tonight’s game was better – they won. The offense had 14 baserunners so that seemed to be back to normal. Kenny Rogers was good enough, and the bullpen was good enough as well.
As was the case with the bullpen, there was some good and bad. Jason Grilli comes into a pressure situation, gets out of the inning unscathed, and then walks the lead-off batter the next inning. Macay McBride then doesn’t do his job giving up an opposite field homer on a 2-2 count. Miner got in a little trouble, but didn’t really get hit hard, and ultimately didn’t allow a run thanks to a great play by Brandon Inge.
The best of the pen though was Todd Jones who recorded his 3rd straight 1-2-3 outing.
- How much fun is Comerica Park where you can get back to back triples? Love the triple.
- Carlos Guillen really brought the glove tonight making 2 great plays on the back hand. He routinely makes the tough plays but can’t make the routine ones. It makes me wonder if moving to first would really help him.
- Speaking of defense Marcus Thames made a very nice diving play. I guess Craig Monroe finally managed to play his way out of the lineup, at least in the short term.
- I had a real good feeling about this game early on when Travis Hafner wasn’t able to score on a ground rule double. Somehow the ball bounced over the highest fence. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a ball bounce over the fence in triplesville.
Game 81: Indians at Tigers
PREGAME: The Tigers will see if their 1-0 Sunday night victory will spark something else for the homestand which has been lackluster to say the least. They’ll also try to even the score against the Indians who won the first 5 match-ups of the season before Detroit took the last 2 in Cleveland.
Tonight feature Paul Byrd. The last time the Tigers faced Byrd they knocked out 9 hits and 4 runs, but came up short.
The reason they came up short was because Nate Robertson gave up 5 runs on 3 homers. Nate will be starting again tonight for the Tigers. He is coming off a strong return from the DL in which he allowed 1 run on 4 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Fatigue was his biggest opponent his last time out, this time it will be Victor Martinez.
CLE @ DET, Tuesday, July 3, 2007 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com
Game Time 7:05 pm
Tigers Minor League Wrap 7/1/07
Toledo 1 Durham 3
Chris Shelton and Kevin Hooper doubled. Ron Chiavacci allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks with 7 K’s over 6 innings.
Akron 7 Erie 5
Steve Torrealba homered twice and Andres Torres and Mike Hollimon each hit long balls also. Jair Jurrjens allowed 3 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks with 4 K”s in 5 2/3 innings of work.
Lakeland 0 Fort Myers 4
Justin Justice had 2 hits and a walk. That was about it offensively. Cameron Maybin didn’t play. Eleazar Aponte allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, on 3 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
West Michigan 2 South Bend 4
Scott Sizemore had 2 doubles and 2 walks. James Skelton added a double and a single. Lauren Gagnier allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, 4 walks, and 6 K’s over 5 innings of work.
Vermont 6 Oneonta 7
Kody Kaiser is a machine as he added 2 doubles and a single. Mike Sullivan had 2 hits as well. Mark Brackman was knocked around for 5 runs on 7 hits in 4 2/3 innings.
GCL Tigers – PPD
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