Tigers Thrash Yankees 9-3…

even series at 1.

The Tigers beat up on Yankee pitching early and often.  The 1-2-3 hitters were on fire but the big hit came off the bat of Don Kelly in the top of the 5th.  After a Victor Martinez double, Kelly came to the plate with runners at second and third with two out and delivered a 2 RBI single making it 6-0.

Miggy, Ajax, and Hunter each hit home runs today.  Hunter’s 3 run shot in the 6th, effectively put the game out of reach.

Anibal Sanchez pitched well.  He went 7 complete, allowed 2 earned, struck out 8, and walked only 1.

In the bottom of the 4th inning, Yankee Brett Gardner, went in to second base high and hard on Jose Iglesias to brake up a double play.  He was successful.  Iglesias threw the ball wide and Ichiro was safe at 1st.  This may be considered an acceptable, hard, baseball play, but after what happened to Omar Infante in Toronto, I think the Tigers should have responded and sent the Yankees, Gardner and the rest of the league a message.  In his next at bat, Gardner should have gotten a 95 mph fastball in the ribs but it didn’t happen.  Perhaps tomorrow? Perhaps next year?

As far as I’m concerned, the Tigers have two scores to settle.  The first is with the Toronto Blue Jays and Colby Rasmus.  That little jerk should be given chin music in his next 3 at bats against the Tigers and his in his 4th at bat his ribs need to be light up with a Rondon 103 mph fastball.  As for Gardner, one in the ribs should suffice, Verlander perhaps tomorrow?

Jose Iglesias and Victor Martinez flashed leather today.  In the bottom of the 3rd, Iggy made a nice diving stop on a ball hit sharply, off the bat of Austin Romine, between short and 3rd and Victor made a nice scoop at 1st to complete the play and end the inning.  Iggy also had two hits raising his average to .323.  Not too bad for a guy the Tigers got for his glove.

Tiger manager Jim Leyland had a slight reprieve from his Dirksburger Syndrome.  Andy Dirks was replaced in left field by Don DK Kelly.  Kelly was 2-4 with 3 RBIs.  What’s even more surprising is that Dirksy didn’t even come in as a defensive replacement late in the game.

“God, I love baseball.” – Roy Hobbs | The Natural

A Pulse?

The Tigers rallied tonight beating the Blue Jays 7-6 on an 8th INNING, MANUFACTURED RUN.

It didn’t look good early.  The Blue Jays ambushed Doug Fister and the Tigers for 6 runs after their first 13 batters.

The Jays scored 4 runs in the bottom of the first and it looked like a short night for Fister and the Tigers.  But the Tiger offense stormed back with 6 in the top of the 2nd to to take the lead, a lead that was short lived.

Doug Fister gave up a two run homer to Colby Rasmus in the bottom of the 2nd and it was looking like the same old story.  However, Fister settled down and shut the Jays out for the next 4 innings.  His final line doesn’t look good, but he was able to go 6 and give the Tigers a chance to win.

And, finally, in the 8th inning the Tigers did something they rarely do.  Not only did they score after the 6th, they actually manufactured the run.  Infante singled and went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Alex Avila.  Infante then went to third on a long fly ball off the bat of Austin Jacskon.  Torii hunter then beat out an infield single and the Tigers had manufactured the go-ahead, winning run.

Alburquerque, Smyly and Benoit pitched the 7th, 8th, and 9th respectively, allowing no runs and giving the Tigers a much needed win.

A loss would have been their 4th in a row and 7th out of 8, but it was not to be.

Thump Thump.  Thump Thump. Do you feel a pulse?

“God, I love baseball.” – Roy Hobbs | The Natural