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Note from Big Al: I apologize for for the punny headline, but it's "May the Fourth Be with You" day! And we can all agree the Yankees are the true Evil Empire.
BOX
KEY STAT
Max Scherzer's pitching line: 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 109 P.
THAT is how you give the bullpen rest. A dominant performance against the Yankees by the now 5-0 Scherzer. And 109 pitches in eight innings? I hope Justin Verlander was taking notes.
KEY PLAY
Scherzer coaxing Curtis Granderson to ground into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play in the 8th. Scherzer was starting to struggle, opening the 8th with a walk to Brett Gardner, then allowing a single to Francisco Cervelli. The Tigers' 4-0 lead looked all too tenuous. But Scherzer bore down, getting American icon Derek Jeter (Not my words, that was how Jeter was described during the FSD+ pre-game. Words fail me...Clean ones, anyway) to fly out. Scherzer then ended a marvelous night with the Granderson double play.
KEY THOUGHTS
The new lineup is working for the Tigers. Two games, two wins over the Evil Empire. I could get used to this!
Working our way down the new world order...
In his second start of the season, Scott Sizemore added another hit from the 2nd spot in the lineup.
The new number three hitter, slumping Brennan Boesch, got good pitches to hit in front of Miguel Cabrera, and took advantage with a 2-4 night.
Victor Martinez came of the DL, and as expected, was inserted as protection behind Cabrera. Martinez singled in his first at bat, and looked good swinging the bat all night long. It's safe to say the offense supplied by the Tigers' only accordion player has been badly missed for the past15 days.
Were we a little too fast to bury Magglio Ordonez? Well...maybe.
Things are looking up the the 37 year old vet. Dropped to 6th in the order, for the first time this season Ordonez went deep. He yanked a line drive over the left field wall for a two run HR in the 3rd inning. Pulling the ball? HARD? A sight for very sore eyes. Ordonez added a single, going 2-3 after a 2-4 night Tuesday. Four hits and three RBI in two games doesn't prove he's turned things around. But it's encouraging. Very encouraging.
Alex Avila is seeing the ball amazingly well, as two more hits attest.
I love me some Al Alburquerque, who finished out the game. He's been excellent during his late inning appearances. I'm actually waiting for Rod Allen to break out his "Mr. Snappy" moniker when Alburquerque throws his nasty slider. The rookie's success as a set up man goes to show you just never know where bullpen help is going to come from.
But in shutting out the Yankees, the night really belonged to Max Scherzer. Tonight, he was as good as he was at any time in second half of 2010. Completely dominant. Scherzer has become ace 1B to Verlander's ace 1A in the Tigers' rotation.