KEY STATS
Andy Dirks, 4-for-4, R, RBI
Wilson Betemit, 2-run HR (video). The Tigers were in a bit of a drought, so that was much needed.
KEY PLAY
Austin Jackson did it again. It's like watching instant replay. Hard hit to center field. Jackson leaps, his glove rises a foot above the wall and returns with a baseball. In this case, Jackson stole the game-tying home run in the 8th to help preserve the win. (Video here)
KEY THOUGHTS
Allow me just to go to Twitter to quote commenter HighOPS:
game summary: Penny did it again. Benoit almost did it again, but Jackson did it again. Valverde did it again
That about sums it up. Brad Penny gave up four runs. Joaquin Benoit would have given up the tying run in the eighth if not for Jackson's catch. And Valverde earned his 34th consecutive save.
Penny just isn't very good. He had a terrific first half of May with a couple of six-plus inning shutous. He showed a flash of brilliance reclaimed in late June and early July when he allowed five runs across three starts. But his ERA from July 6 on was 6.60 before tonight's game. Four runs in 5 1/3 innings actually pushes that up a bit higher. Matthew B Mowery mentioned on Twitter the Tigers might be thinking of finding another starter because Penny just isn't getting the job done. It's hard to disagree.
The Tigers stranded 12 runners, which isn't good. But they actually did hit fine -- 4 for 12 -- with runners in scoring position. That's .333. You'd take that. So the problem wasn't really with the batting.
I think we have to note Phil Coke had another nice showing. He struck out 3 in 1 2/3 perfect innings. Couple that with his game in Cleveland on Tuesday and you have to think Coke is turning the corner.
Other notes:
Cleveland won (booo!). Minnesota manager Rod Gardenhire got mad at his defense and swore and then ended the press conference. I agree with Ron. I made a few comments about the Twins, too!
Chicago is losing 5-0 in the ninth.
Al Alburquerque has a concussion and will be staying in the hospital overnight. Here's a video of what happened. He has been placed on the 7-day concussion disabled list with Ryan Perry recalled.