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Open Thread: 7/30/05 Tigers @ Athletics

vs.

Well, this has not been a friendly trip out west for the Tigers (50-52), who have lost 3 of 4 so far to the Mariners and Athletics. Today they will once again take on the Oakland Athletics (56-46) for the second game of the three game set. Barry Zito (9-8) will take the mound for the A's today against the Tigers Nate Robertson (5-8). Both have very similar ERA's under 4, so a pitching duel may be in the works today at McAfee Coliseum.

Game time is 4:05.

In some news on the minor league front, Tigers pitching prospect Joel Zumaya put together a very impressive performance last night:

This night was a game of two tales. There was the win in the end, but there was also a dominant six-inning show by Toledo starting pitcher Joel Zumaya, who gave the speed gun at Harbor Park a workout as he spun fastballs in the high 90s throughout. He even threw one 99-mile-per-hour fastball in the first inning.

From a fan's standpoint, it was a bit disappointing to see him leave. But the Tides didn't mind his departure, particularly seeing how Zumaya had 12 strikeouts when he left with a 2-0 lead.

For much of the evening, the Tides (59-49) swung and missed Zumaya's wicked fastball and his 79 mile-per-hour changeup.

"I was happy to see him out of the game," Tides manager Ken Oberkfell said. "He had our hitters off-balance the entire time."

The callup to Toledo has been a little rough on Joel so far, as he is 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA. Before the callup he was dominating at AA Erie, striking out 143 in 107 innings.