The Tigers haven’t won a season opener since 2006. In 2006, they went to the World Series. In 2010, they won their season opener. Finish that little riddle.
The Tigers touched up the Royals bullpen for six runs once Greinke was pulled after six innings (96 pitches). The Tigers were really excited that Greinke didn’t last more than six innings, and they showed just how excited they were by scoring all six of those runs off the Royals bullpen in the 7th inning.
The other turning point had to be Joel Zumaya’s first inning of work this season. He mowed down the Royals in seven pitches — the last pitch a 102 MPH fastball that struck out Yuniesky Betancourt (the guy who homered off a Verlander fastball earlier in the game). Zumaya then strutted off the mound and one could just feel the energy shift in Detroit’s favor.
Sure enough, the rally commenced. Roman Colon, in for Greinke, started the seventh by walking rookie, Scott Sizmore, and gave up a single to pinch-hitter, Roman Santiago, before being pulled for rocket-arm, Robinson Tejada. Tejada then gave up back-to-back doubles that plated three, and a batter later gave up an RBI single to Miguel Cabrera on an ill-advised 0-2 fastball. It was sad to see him get pulled at that point.
But Juan Cruz was welcomed to the party with open arms and a Guillen single, then followed by a two-run double from Inge. He finally settled down and struck out the next two batters to end the inning. 8-4 Tigers, and that’s all she needed — that would be the final score.
BULLPEN WIN
The bullpen, which is always a question mark with the start of a new season, was strong-to-quite-strong today. Four innings, three hits, zero runs, one walk, and two strikeouts. Joel Zumaya picked up the win in relief of Verlander (5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K).
Phil Coke, who rocks an awesome mane and goatee, struggled to locate his pitches, gave up a couple hits, and was bailed out by Austin Jackson’s assist that nailed Jason Kendall (who shouldn’t have been trying to score anyway), but if that’s the worst a bully guy can do, then I’ll take it. (And the run would have been Zumaya’s, but you feel me).
QUALITY DAY FROM ROOKIES
No doubt, Austin Jackson and Scott Sizemore have large shoes to fill, but Tigers fans are making the shoes bigger than they need to be by expecting Granderson & Polly-like numbers from these two guys. First of all, Johnny Damon is in Polanco’s old spot in the lineup, so if you must compare, use Damon for that one.
Austin Jackson had four quality at bats that would have garnered the ol’ asterisk in the box score that denotes… a quality at bat. He hit Greinke hard in his first two ABs (line out to right & line out to short) and in his third at bat, he worked the count full before striking out on a pitch even Cabrera doesn’t touch. In his first AB post-Greinke, he hit a key double to left in the Tigers’ six run seventh inning. He then struck out looking to end his day. While getting on base only once and striking out twice (opposite zero walks) isn’t ideal from a leadoff hitter, Jackson saw more pitches than any other Tigers’ hitter today (26). That’s exactly what is ideal from a leadoff hitter. On defense, as I mentioned earlier, Jackson threw out Jason Kendall at the plate on a base hit. Curtis Granderson had four assists all last year.
Scott Sizemore, batting in the eight hole, saw the second most pitches (22). He was 0-3, but he did draw a walk and scored a run. He also displayed some veteran-like awareness on the basepaths when he advanced from first to third on Santiago’s single in the seventh. He won the hearts of some Tigers’ fans with that alone.
We’re definitely going to see more hitting out of these two than just one hit in most games, but if they continue to work pitchers, breaking them down for the rest of the lineup to pounce all over, it won’t be the worst thing in the world. This was a pretty darn effective 1-8 game from the rooks, if you ask me.
CLUTCH CABRERA
It’s always good to see your best hitter getting the season off on the right foot. Cabrera caught A LOT of flack last year for hitting a lull near the end of summer and not driving in runners in scoring position. Today, he was 2-2 with RISP. The Tigers were 5-13 as a team, which is also encouraging from a team that struggled all 2009 with that.
AROUND THE CENTRAL
Twins lost 6-3. They gave up 2 runs in the 8th inning – an inning they would have presumably had their current closer pitching if Nathan were healthy. And so it begins.
The White Sox beat the Indians 6-0 and Mark Buehrle already making a strong bid for play of the year/Gold Glove:
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