Tigers go yard 4 times in 7-4 victory over the Twins

by BigAl on Jul 11, 2010 12:59 AM EDT in News Comment 14 comments

Detroit Tigers right fielder Magglio Ordonez reaches out and snags a fly ball hit by Minnesota Twins' Michael Cuddyer in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 10, 2010 in Detroit. The Tigers defeated the Twins 7-4. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

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Final - 7.10.2010	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Minnesota Twins	0	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	4	6	0
Detroit Tigers	2	1	1	0	3	0	0	0	X	7	8	0
WP: Jeremy Bonderman (5 - 6) SV: Jose Valverde (19) LP: Nick Blackburn (7 - 7)

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Note form Al: It's a short and to the point recap tonight. I was out of the house a little longer than anticipated!

The weather was hot, but the Tigers were hotter, out homering the Twins 4-1 in a 7-4 victory.

With the win, the Tigers are a season high 11 games over the .500 mark, and have an AL best 32-12 home record. This is a team currently on a big time roll, and I'm actually sorry the All-Star beak is almost upon us, interrupting their home winning streak.

With the loss, the Twins dropped 4 games back of the Tigers. It remains a 3 team race in the Central, as the surging White Sox remain only 1/2 game back with their win over the Royals tonight.

As for the game itself, Jeremy Bonderman wasn't his sharpest. But he did throw 6 innings of 4 hit, 3 run ball, which was enough to garner the victory. Big time kudos go out to recent call up Robbie Weinhardt, who once again entered the game in relief, and shut down the opposition with men on base.

Daniel Schlereth entered the game in the 7th in relief of a tiring Bonderman, and game up a long double to deep center off the bat of Jason Kubel. Weinhardt immediately got the call out of the pen, and kept the inning from spinning out of control. Kubel ended up scoring on a ground out, making it a 7-4 game. But what could have been a big inning was snuffed out by Weinhardt, thanks to his getting 3 quick outs.

Offensively, the big hit came off the bat of Johnny Damon. His 3 run shot in the 5th inning broke open what had been a tight 4-3 game. Also going yard were Miguel Cabrera (his 22nd of what may be an MVP season), Alex Avila and Maggilo Ordonez.

Despite all the injuries and the constant flow of players between Detroit and Toledo, the Tigers will go into the All-Break no worse than 1/2 game out of 1st. If any of you were asked before the season if you'd be happy with the Tigers going into the break in 1st place, or even a 1/2 game out...you'd be both stunned and damn happy.

No matter what happens Sunday, I'm thrilled where the Tigers find themselves.

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I'm happy with the Tigers lot in life right now.

But it is all moot, as the White Sox will apparently not lose a game for the rest of the season.

by ChrisDTX on Jul 11, 2010 1:04 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

In Chicago

I’m sure that bloggers are grumbling about how the Tigers never lose either. If both teams win the rest of their games for the rest of the season, Tigers take the division (and I’d guess that ChiSox get wild card!)

Granderson was my Tiger, then Sizemore, then Willis. I think I'll stop picking Tigers.

by momotigers on Jul 11, 2010 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions

I LOVE YOU TIGERRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSS

omnomnom

by rcpratt on Jul 11, 2010 1:28 AM EDT reply actions

Twins fans = Frustrated

from twinkie town:
http://www.twinkietown.com/2010/7/9/1562238/liriano-gets-a-nice-early-shower#comments

“Twins are not a good baseball team "
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“Rowdy thing to say, but, there’s a level of denial on this site.
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They’ve been playing under .500 for two months, longer than they’ve been playing over .500, which was really only through the first week in May. They played the NL under .500 Big clue that they are not a good team.
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How did we achieve this level of suckitude? It all starts with starting pitching, though it certainly doesn’t end there. Nonetheless, when you have a young staff, you are always hoping for natural progression. Of Blackburn, Baker, Slowey and Liriano, aside from maybe Liriano, there has been no improvement. In fact, there has been regression from Baker, Slowey and Blackburn. That’s the core of the staff heading the wrong way.
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Defense, which had been a strength has become almost a liability. I think of Span being unable to catch the Grand Slam by Joyce at Target Field. The ball was catchable, it hit the top of the wall. In Toronto, Span and Delmon turn a looping fly ball into a 2-run homer. Liriano, how many bunt hits has he given up to Detroit in the last two starts? Then, throw in some regular garden-variety errors and you have mediocrity for defense. When was the last clutch fielding play that helped them win a game? I can’t think of one either.
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Offense. No power from Mauer, and not even much for a batting average. Span, hot and cold. Hudson, the same. Cuddyer, not even close to league-average for a corner guy. Hardy, what?, 14 rbis? The only two guys having good years are Morneau and Young. You can’t win like that. Remember how they started the season leading the league in walks? Where are they now?
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Injuries, blown saves, inconsistency in the bullpen. Lack of a bench. Poor road play. And, what always kills me is that on "get away day" Gardy trots out a losing line-up and they play with exactly zero energy and enthusiasm. This is a poor baseball team right now, and I believe they are destined to fight with KC over third place.
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In another place and time, more scrutiny would fall on the manager, but this is the Twins and the status quo is always okay when it comes to the manager. At some point though, the media has to start asking questions about how the Twins went downhill so fast.”

by linuxit on Jul 11, 2010 1:52 AM EDT reply actions