Dig the Long Ball: Tigers 6, Twins 5

by Ian Casselberry on Apr 15, 2008 10:31 PM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

No need for a long recap tonight, is there? This one was all about the long ball. The Tigers' bats finally look like they're shaking off that early spring chill. Initially, the only problem was that the home runs came with no one on base. Gary Sheffield, Magglio Ordonez, and Carlos Guillen each hit solo shots to put Detroit on the scoreboard. But Justin Morneau struck a big blow in the sixth with a two-run blast off Nate Robertson. That seemed like it might be the decisive moment of the game, until the fans at Comerica Park finally got an idea of why Miguel Cabrera is expected to be Detroit's Next Top Baseball Superstar.

As you probably know (unless you tried to shield yourself from the ugly truth), Cabrera came into the game batting .205/.300/.318 with one home run and three RBIs. But with three hits in his previous two games, maybe it was finally starting to heat up. Tonight, it all came together when both Cabrera and his team probably needed it most. With Ordonez on second base, Cabrera sent a 1-2 pitch from Jesse Crain into the Tigers bullpen. And for the second straight night, Detroit called it a comeback.

If there's a pun, I suppose it's intended, but isn't it a relief to see the other team's bullpen cough up two games in a row? (Let's not talk about Todd Jones giving up that deep fly to Delmon Young which Ryan Raburn kept in the park, but couldn't quite keep in his glove...)

Two-game series or not, a sweep is a sweep. And winning their first series of the season comes at a great time, with the Tigers heading to Cleveland for the next two games. How might that AL Central race look by Friday?

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Nobody in the AL

has even hit the 10-win mark yet. Plus the Tiggers are only 4.5 out of first in the Central. Considering how awful they’ve looked, it’s nice to see them win a couple and only be that far behind the White Sox and Royals (who, let’s face it, aren’t going to be there at the end of the season).

by mparks on Apr 15, 2008 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

Here we go...

...we’re starting to wake up, and the rest of the AL should be concerned. Now let’s sweep Cleveland.

Go Tigers

by Tony K on Apr 16, 2008 6:44 AM EDT reply actions

Cabrera/Guillen

Ian, I had posted in the thread that last night was the first time that I had seen Cabrera at first. MAK said that he had switched last night too, but my real observation is…....Guillen is hurting, Thames hasn’t really had a chance for at bats in consecutive days, and Inge is actually hitting the ball; sooooo this probably sets us up nicely if god forbid, yes forbid Guillen needs an extended respite. Inge gets to play the 3 hole with Cabrera at first.

Me like this a lot.

by Zappatista on Apr 16, 2008 7:57 AM EDT reply actions

Standings

Do you realize that if the Tigers win tonight, they catch Cleveland in the standings? Of course, that’s a lot to ask with Armando Antonio Galarraga on the mound. Still, the way the bats went the past two nights, anything is possible.

I really believe that the difference was pressure. Everyone felt he had to be THE MAN every night and that’s a lot of pressure. Now suddenly, as if a switch has been thrown, the pressure is off and they all know that it’s not all on their shoulders. It’s more about having quality at bats than it is about feeling you have to win the game every time you step to the plate.

Confidence and relaxation. Yes, these boys of summer 08 are taking off.

by pfuhrmeister on Apr 16, 2008 9:37 AM EDT reply actions