PREGAME: The Tigers kick off an asinine 4 game road trip that takes them to California for 2 games and Chicago for 2 games. The team flight arrived in LA about midnight eastern time last night.
It will be Mike Maroth taking on Jered Weaver. Let’s hope they can avoid extra innings tonight.
Game time 10:05pm
Toledo 7 Durham 4 16 innings
It was a nice day, so they almost played two. The Hens pushed across a run in the 12th, only to see Durham answer. The Mud Hens broke through for 3 in the top of the 16th to end it. Ron Chiavacci allowed 2 runs and fanned 10 in 6 innings starting. He was the first of 8 pitchers used. Chris Shelton was 2 for 7 and scored the winning run in the 16th. Mike Hessman had 4 hits, and Ramon Santiago had 3. Ryan Raburn had a rough night going 0 for 7. Brent Clevlen had a rougher night also posting an 0 for 7, but with 6 K’s.
Bowie 6 Erie 11
Jeff Larish was a triple short of the cycle and drove in 6 runs. Mike Hollimon doubled and walked twice. Eulogio De La Cruz went 6 innings and allowed 4 runs on 7 hits, 3 walks, 2 K’s, and a homer. Andrew Kown came on in relief and allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, on a hit, and a walk. He fanned 5.
Lakeland – DNP
Wisconsin 2 West Michigan 8
The dream is over, Chris Cody allowed a run. Well, just the one actually in 7 innings of work to go along with 7 strikeouts. His ERA now stands at 0.34. In 26 2/3 innings he’s fanned 28 and walked only 6. Ryan Strieby and Louis Ott had a 3 hit game and Jeremy Laster hit his 2nd homer. Gorkys Hernandez singled, stole a base, and walked twice.
PREGAME The Tigers need this win to salvage a .500 homestand, and to keep their record from sliding back to .500 overall.
One thing that definitely isn’t a key to the game is grabbing the lead early.
Gary Sheffield gets the day off today, so naturally Omar Infante will get the start at designated hitter and bat 3rd. It should be noted that Infante has amassed 32 at-bats against Jon Garland and is hitting .438 against him. Infante won’t be any less productive than Gary Sheffield has been at driving in Placido Polanco and Curtis Granderson, but it is a curious decision nonetheless. If Infante comes up with a big hit it is Leyland’s magic touch. If not …
Marcus Thames will start in leftfield and Mike Rabelo will start behind the plate.
Jon Garland gets the start for the White Sox. The Tigers end out Justin Verlander who’s been great this year. Last year the White Sox were the team Justin struggled with the most posting a 7.84 ERA over 5 starts.
Game Time 1:05pm
POSTGAME: Ah, so many thoughts and so many emotions. To hard to string them together logically, so I’m going bulletized: Continue reading Game 18: White Sox at Tigers
Toledo 10 Durham 2
The bats came out in a a big way with Kevin Hooper, Brent Clevlen, Timo Perez and Ramon Santiago all having multi-hit games including a homer for Hooper. Chris Shelton was one of the few who didn’t get in on the party with an 0 for 4 and 3 K’s. Virgil Vasquez didn’t need much help with 6 shut out innings allowing only 4 hits and a walk while striking out 10. If nothing else it keeps the pressure on Chad Durbin.
Bowie 4 Erie 8
Mike Hollimon doubled and walked. Hollimon is 24 and the organization skipped him over Lakeland. So far with a 324/480/514 line things are looking good. Kody Kirkland doubled and singled and Jeff Larish drove in 3 runs without a hit. Jair Jurrjens pitched 6 innings allowing 2 runs on 7 hits, 2 walks and 5 K’s. He had people pounding the ball into the ground with an 11:1 GO to FO ratio.
Dunedin 8 Lakeland 1
Andrew Miller was knocked around for 9 hits (singles), 2 walks, and 5 runs. He fanned 3, and posted the same 11:1 ground ball-fly ball ratio that Jurrjens did. Cameron Maybin doubled and walked and is now hitting 308/463/635.
Wisconsin 3 West Michigan 4
Duane Below had a very good start allowing 4 hits and no walk for 2 runs over 6 innings. He also struck out 9 and induced 8 ground ball outs. Scott Sizemore and Gorkys Hernandez each had 2 hit games.
PREGAME: The Tigers look to snap their first losing streak of the season. To do it they’ll send out Nate Robertson.
Robertson has been very effective this year because he’s kept the ball in the park. In twenty innings he’s only given up 1 long ball. (I know, beware of the DTW reverse jinx). Last year Nate surrendered 7 homers in 26 2/3 innings to the White Sox. (trying to counteract the DTW reverse jinx).
The White Sox will send out Jose Contreras. Contreras has had severe control problems this year to the tune of 10 walks in 12 innings. Of course the Tigers have made lesser pitchers look great this season, so this doesn’t mean a whole lot.
Game time 1:05pm
POSTGAME: For the 3rd time in 3 games the Tigers had another come from ahead loss. Once again it was the same story in that only a couple of guys provided offense and the pen couldn’t secure the lead.
I lamented Jim Leyland going with Jason Grilli in a high leverage situation yesterday. Today he went with Joel Zumaya who did the job in the 7th, but couldn’t protect the lead in the 8th. After a scoreless 9th from Todd Jones, Fernando Rodney was hammered for a couple doubles and a single in the 10th. I can’t be upset with the bullpen use today. Leyland went to his top guys, but 2 of the 3 let him down.
And as for Rodney, he was awful today. He’s been pretty bad in all but one of the losses. Yet if you want the Tigers to ditch him, it ain’t gonna happen. Rodney signed a 2 year deal and the Tigers aren’t going to eat that 3 weeks into the season. That would be a tremendous overreaction. I can understand short of that wanting him to not see as many high leverage situations. From a baseball strategy standpoint it would be hard to argue with that. But I’ve never been one to understand the psyche of a Major League reliever. I’ll leave it to Leyland to manage Rodney’s mental state, and hope that Chuck Hernandez can straighten out the mechanics.
The bottom 3 in the lineup combined to go 0 for 12 today, and Pudge batting 6th was right there with them until a single in his last at-bat. The Tigers continue to rely on 4 guys to provide all of the offense. Even bunching it today wasn’t enough.
And one note for Gary Sheffield. I’m still pretty confident he’ll get things turned around. But in the meantime stop complaining. That pitch to end the game on Friday was a strike. Instead of arguing the foul ball on strike 3 today, run. And instead of arguing the swinging bunt, run. If you don’t like the car, hit the ball farther than 6 inches.
Buffalo 6 Toledo 5
Zach Miner started and allowed 5 runs over 6 innings. This was actually an improvement as he allowed only 5 hits and a walk against 4 k’s. Ryan Raburn was 1 for 2 with 2 walks. Chris Shelton doubled, singled, and walked.
Bowie 1 Erie 4
Dallas Trahern allowed 1 run on 6 hits and 3 walks over 7 innings while fanning 3. Ian Ostlund struck out the side for the save. Jeff Larish and Kody Kirkland each doubled and walked.
Dunedin 5 Lakeland 7
Ronnie Bourquin had two hits. Wilkin Ramirez hit his 2nd homer and walked. Cameron Maybin was 1 for 4 with a stolen base. Speaking of SB’s Ovandy Suero added 2 to run his total to 10 against 2 caught stealings. Sendy Vasquez allowed 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks over 5 innings. Anthony Tomey added another scoreless inning.
Clinton 3 West Michigan 1
The Whitecaps had 8 hits and their opponent made 4 errors, and yet they only scratched across 1 run. Scott Sizemore was 2 for 4. Audy Ciriaco was 0 for 3 and saw his average drop to 196. Angel Castro allowed 4 hits, but 3 of them were homers. He walked one and struck out 7 in 7 innings.
PREGAME: Now it gets interesting. The Tigers will be taking on one of the contenders from the AL Central. Not to diminish the Royals, but this is the first divisional series that can really be used as a measuring stick.
The Tigers send out Chad Durbin. Durbin struggled in his first 2 starts and the Tigers had to rely on Wil Ledezma and Jason Grilli to share the load in those games. Leyland has said that Durbin’s job isn’t in danger, but another outing where he doesn’t really give the team a chance to win and I think it will be hard for Leyland to send him out there again. I’m not looking for a quality start, but 6 innings and 4 runs allowed would be fine out of the 5th starter.
The Tigers will face John Danks, who the White Sox acquired from the Rangers. Danks has a pretty solid WHIP of 1.235 and has fanned 10 in 11 1/3 innings. The only knock against him in his first 2 starts is that he’s allowed 3 homers already.
Game time 7:05
POSTGAME: Chad Durbin did his job tonight. He gave the team 5 innings and allowed only 2 runs, and did it relatively easily. Of course, he was charged with 2 more runs in the 6th after he loaded the bases on a tweener and a couple of walks. Leyland then went to Jason Grilli who gave up the 2 run single.
I don’t blame Grilli so much. He is what he is, and chances are runs are going to score in a bases loaded no out situation. I would have felt better with Joel Zumaya pitching, but at the same time I can’t expect to see him in every high leverage situation. Yet the way the pitching has been handled the last 2 games just hasn’t sat well with me.
Bobby Seay and Aquilino Lopes did a nice job in their turns in relief.
I still don’t understand starting Thames and lifting him with a lead in the 5th inning. Both times the Tigers went on to relinquish the lead. I hear Leyland talking about defense and such, but I guess I still just don’t get it.
And Gary Sheffield, I just don’t know.
The Tigers placed Jose Mesa on the 15 day disabled list retroactive to April 17th. Mesa’s injury is a groin pull. Aquilino Lopez’s contract was purchased from Toledo to take Mesa’s spot. Lopez has 4 saves and 6 1/3 scoreless innings this year. He’s only allowed 1 hit and 2 walks while fanning 6. Lopez is a right hander and will turn 32 tomorrow (nice birthday present).
Edward Campusano was transferred from the 15 to 60 day DL to free up a spot on 40 man roster.
I’m thinking the impact of this will be minimal. Mesa only has a couple of appearances and only one came in a game that was still in question. He wasn’t a key cog in the pen. If anything it may mean a little extra work for Bobby Seay. Given Mesa’s performances this year this could be a good thing (although I’m not someone to root for guys injuries).
As an aside, every time I hear about a groin injury I can’t help but think of the Cheers where Sam Malone filled in as a sportscaster and rapped “g-g-groin, g-g-groin, g-g-groin injury.’
Buffalo 1 Toledo 3
Yorman Bazardo gave up an unearned run in the first inning, and then shut out Buffalo for the next 5 allowing 7 hits, 2 walks and fanning 5. Preston Larrison added 2 scoreless innings of relief. Brent Clevlen was moved up to the 2nd spot in the Mud Hen lineup, perhaps to help him focus on contact like they did with Chris Shelton. Clevlen was 1 for 4. Shelton doubled and struck out 3 times. Mike Hessman homered.
Bowie 11 Erie 5
This was a tight game until an 8 run 7th inning. Kyle Sleeth and Kevin Ardoin each gave up 4 runs in relief of Jon Connolly. Matt Joyce singled and hit his first homer. Steve Torrealba and Nick McIntrye added 2 hits apiece.
Dunedin6 Lakeland 13
There’s a whole lot of offensive highlights in this one. Jusitn Justice was a double short of the cycle and had 6 RBI. Justice was hitting behind Maybin who was a homer short of the cycle and added 2 walks scoring 5 times. Maybin and Justice each added a stole base. Mike Hernandez doubled twice and tripled. Elezar Aponte pitched 6 innings allowing 44 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks.
Clinton 3 West Michigan 0
The Whitecaps only mustered 4 hits, but they did add 8 walks. Gorkys Hernandez, Scott Sizemore, and Jeff Kunkel all had 2 walks a piece. Lauren Gagnier had a pretty strong effort allowing 3 runs, 1 earned, in 6 1/3 innings. He fanned 8, walked 2, and gave up 6 hits.
Buffalo 4 Toledo 0
The Hens were held to 3 hits, Brent Clevlen had one of them. Dennis Tankersley started and went 4 1/3 innings allowing 6 hits and 3 walks. Corey Hamman pitched 1 2/3 innings allowing 1 hit and fanning 3.
Erie 1 Akron 2 (10 innings)
Matt Joyce tripled and singled to pick up half of the Seawolves offense. Eddie Bonnine pitched 6 strong innings fanning 4, walking 1, and allowing 6 hits.
Lakeland 4 Fort Myers 7
Ryan Roberson had 2 hits including his 2nd homer. Mike Hernandez had 2 doubles. Cameron Maybin walked 3 times and added his 5th stolen base. Lucas French was touched for 5 runs on 9 hits in 5 innings.
Clinton 3 West Michigan 4 (11 innings)
Gorkys Hernandez went 3 for 5 in the leadoff spot. Scott Sizemore singled and hit his first homer. Brennan Boesch and Ryan Strieby each had 2 hits as well.
PREGAME: Jeremy Bonderman and Gil Meche in a matineee.
Game Time 1:05
POSTGAME:There wasn’t a lot to like about this game with the exception of Jeremy Bonderman and Curtis Granderson. Bonderman went 7 innings on 86 pitches but wasn’t allowed to come out for the 8th. This is the 2nd time in a week that Jim Leyland didn’t send out Bonderman even when his pitch count and performance probably warranted another inning.
Granderson mentioned this offseason that Gil Meche was one of the toughest pitchers he faced last year. He seems to have gotten past that with 3 hits today, granted one was a dribbler, but he was one of the few to get a solidly hit ball all day. Granderson and Placido Polanco combined to get on base 5 times, and Sheffield failed to do anything to drive them in once again.
As for the bullpen, at least Joel Zumaya was good. I’m not too upset about the Todd Jones blown save. It was the walks which were uncharacteristic for Jones that did him in. He’ll allow hits because he doesn’t strike out many, but normally it takes several of those hits. With the free passes Jones loses his slim margin for error. Blown saves are frustrating, but no closer is perfect.
Fernando Rodney continues to struggle. I understand frustrations with him, because he quite frankly hasn’t been effective. And when Rodney is struggling it is excruciating to watch as he takes a long time between each pitch. Still, I’m not terribly worried. He could be a set-up man for many teams, and he’s only splitting the role in Detroit.
As for some of the moves today, I know this will sound like second guessing due to the timing, but I was questioning them as they happened. I didn’t agree with taking out Bonderman. There was no need to. Jones was going to pitch the 9th no matter what, so using Zumaya in the 8th was unnecessary and rendered him unavailable in the 10th.
I also disagreed with the designated bunter approach. For the chance to move a runner into scoring position which would still require another hit, Leyland was conceding an out. The probability of not scoring with a no out-runner on first situation is 57.8% and in a 1 out-runner on second situation it is 60.4% (in a 4.5 RPG environment). So even if it is successful, it reduces the chances of winning. If it were a matter of moving a runner from 2nd to 3rd I’d agree with the move, but not in this case.
A well pitched game in which the the Royals defense handed a struggling offense some runs slipped away. It stinks, but it is also going to happen. Detroit has come out on the winning end of some of these as well.
Buffalo 4, Toledo 5
Ryan Raburn hit his 3rd homer and drew 2 walks. Chris Shelton was 1 for 3 with 2 walks. Ramon Santiago added 2 doubles.
Erie 1, Akron 5
Not much offense for the Seawolves tonight. Jeff Larish tripled and Matt Joyce doubled. Eulogio de la Cruz started and surrendered 4 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks over 4 innings.
Lakeland 5, Fort Myers 0
Burke Badenhop had a great outing fanning 8 in 6 2/3 innings while only surrendering 4 hits and a walk. Cameron Maybin hit his 4th homer of the season.
Clinton 0, West Michigan 5
Chris Cody threw 8 scoreless innings extending his streak to 19 1/3 innings without an earned run (he’s allowed 1 unearned run). Gorkys Hernandez was 2 for 3 with a walk.