More photos » by NATHAN DENETTE - AP

In his major league debut, Rick Porcello showed impressive poise and stuff, but it wasn't enough to help the Detroit Tigers earn a split in their series finale with the Toronto Blue Jays. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)

Browse more photos »

The kid was all right.  Rick Porcello showed us this afternoon why his future looks so bright, getting Toronto hitters to ground out repeatedly with pitches that showed sharp movement.  He also showed poise, fielding his position well, and shaking off errors and big hits that, quite frankly, rattle the cages of some of his more experienced teammates.  (And between Porcello and Ryan Perry, I'm sure I'll wear the hell out of that Who title by the end of the season.)

Unfortunately, that effort wasn't enough to get a victory today, and the Tigers have to limp back to Detroit having lost three of four to the Blue Jays when they got good enough starting pitching to have gotten three wins instead.  Porcello gave up four runs on nine hits (two of them home runs), while striking out four and only walking one over five innings of work (89 pitches). 

If only his lineup would've brought the same bats to Rogers Centre that they had in the first three games of this series, Porcello might have earned a win in his major league debut.  Jays rookie pitcher Ricky Romero generally held Detroit's bats in check, aside from two deep drives by Curtis Granderson and Marcus Thames in the third inning that led to the two Tigers runs.

Whimper:

After three home runs in his first three games, Brandon Inge cooled down today, going 0-for-3 and grounding into a double play that prevented the Tigers from putting more at least one more run on the board early in the game.

Turning Point:

It tied the game, rather than give the Jays the lead, but Aaron Hill's solo home run in the fifth inning (his second of the series) indicated that Porcello was tiring and perhaps the Toronto hitters were beginning to figure him out.

Comment of the Day:

Marcus seems to have figured out

That the only way he’s getting three bags is to hit a guy in the face.

by Trysdor

Opening Day in Detroit tomorrow!  We'll see you back here tomorrow afternoon for our live GameThread.  (And if you're attending the home opener, get in your seats by 12:30 p.m., as there will be a tribute to George Kell before the game, in addition to the usual Opening Day festivities.)