Ace-ability! Tigers 3, Indians 1
by MackAveKurt on May 3, 2009 4:20 PM EDT
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13 comments
In a battle of ace pitchers, the Tigers found a game-defining moment in Justin Verlander in the seventh inning and rode the momentum to a much-needed series victory over Cleveland. (More on that later.) The Tigers needed that, because today's game was a nice opportunity to show to themselves and others this 2009 edition of the Tigers is vastly improved over the past season -- not just physically, but mentally. Cleveland has been a stick in the Tigers' craw year after year after year.
Friday's victory by the Indians gave the Tribe an eighth consecutive victory over a Tigers team that had struggled against in-division teams. But Detroit survived the mental kick in the stomach on Saturday after blowing a 5-0 lead only to be trailing in the eighth inning. They held strong again today when the Indians loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning.
And now, they have defended Comerica Park in a series they very well could have lost after dropping Friday's game, and rallied to a 5-3 record against the Central in this early season. All indications are positive.
Roar
With a home run in the second inning, Brandon Inge extended his on-base streak to start the season to 24 games. The Tigers' record of 30 was set by Ron LeFlore in 1976. ... Verlander struck out 11 batters -- including recording seven outs in a row by strikeout from the second to the fourth innings. ... Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4, and the top four in the order combined for eight hits.... Bobby Seay and Joel Zumaya kept the Indians off the board in the eighth, and Fernando Rodney earned his sixth save in the ninth. The Tigers "winning" bullpen arms this season mean most late leads are safe ... Tigers pitching held Cleveland to three hits in 30 at-bats.
Whimper
Carlos Guillen went 0-for-4 with four fly balls to right field, leaving seven on base. ... Tigers DH Ryan Raburn went 0-for-4, leaving four on base.
Turning point
A walk of Shin-Soo Choo to open the seventh inning was a bad start for Verlander. Mark DeRosa doubled. Then Tigers manager Jim Leyland ordered an intentional walk to the left-handed Kelly Shoppach David Dellucci to get to the 7-8-9 batters. Even the ace was going to have troubles getting out of this one! But Verlander induced a shallow fly to right field and then struck out Indians rookie Matt LaPorta, who was making his big league debut. Now the Tigers just had to worry about the No. 9 batter, and Luis Valbuena grounded out weakly. Wow!
The Tigers rode that momentum into the bottom half of the inning, and back to back doubles by the first two batters, backup catcher Dane Sardinha and center fielder Curtis Granderson, gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead and put Verlander on-line for the victory.
Comment of the game
The Walrus9 shamelessly nominated this, but I think it sums thing up pretty well
I think I'm falling in love with this 2009 Tigers team
so much more heart and determination than last year’s team. Last year’s team folds when JV loads the bases. Last year’s team doesn’t get a couple runs to back up JV after he manages that Houdini act.
Kurt of Mack Avenue Tigers is guest blogging while Ian is in Seattle.
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If you aren't going to promote yourself
Who will?
I wasn’t angling for the comment of the day honors, but that’s really how I feel about this team. Last years team were such pushovers, but this year’s team has some fight in it.
by ThaWalrus9 on May 3, 2009 4:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
haha
good point. I just added my “Kurt of Mack Avenue Tigers…” line for the first time in several days!
by MackAveKurt on May 3, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seay-Zumaya-Rodney
thats exactly what I want to see in a close game from here on out
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 3, 2009 5:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I DVR'd it!
Oh, goody, just got home from work and can sit and KNOW we got a win but get to savor it.
"It's designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything is new again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops, and leaves you to face the fall alone". A. Bartlett Giamatti
by densogirl on May 3, 2009 6:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Savor it, indeed!
Verlander was spectacular. It got a little dicey in the 7th and 8th, but nothing to chew my fingernals over, cause I knew they won. Zoom and Rodney tremendous. A gorgeous day for a ballgame.
"It's designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything is new again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops, and leaves you to face the fall alone". A. Bartlett Giamatti
by densogirl on May 4, 2009 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Been studying like crazy for exams so I'm upset I didn't get to join you guys
Got to watch it however, and that was one hell of a game by Verlander. Loved the emotion he showed after getting out of the bases loaded jam. Fantastic game.
Motown String Music- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
by Packey on May 3, 2009 7:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
2009 AL Champs
Getting rid of that fungusized cancer Gary Sheffield is what will propel us to the top of the mountain again!!
by FrankyFiat on May 3, 2009 7:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
possibly the improved infield defense
and healthy rodney and zumaya have something to do with it too.
by MackAveKurt on May 3, 2009 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Starting pitching has been significantly better, too. Plus it helps to have Cabs hitting nearly .400 in April as opposed to .150
Motown String Music- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog
by Packey on May 4, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Inge’s on base streak ends tonight, I think we all know who to blame for jinxing it….
by ahtrap on May 4, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Awesome ballgame!
Gotta love an old school pitchers duel! Then again, the Tigers had a ton of hits, so I’m not sure it really counts as a pitchers duel. Still, it was nice to see that this team had enough to compensate for some earlier mistakes at the plate and on the bases. Get out of several sticky situations, and most importantly not spoil this gem of a performance from Verlander. He threw WAY too many pitches, but was absolutely brilliant. I was at the game, and the only thing dissapointing was the attendance. I guess it’s to be expected when head to head with a Wings playoff game.
by Mushy on May 4, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
you know I thought attendance was fine
Like you said, given the red wings game, and factoring in for the Detroit economy, I think around 27,000 or 28,000, whichever it was, was actually good. Tigers are right in the middle of the MLB in attendance at 27,300, and Detroit in April is really never all that great (except last year.) They should be able to get that up to 30,000 with a nice summer.
by MackAveKurt on May 4, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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