In the first inning I had a weird feeling Verlander was going to throw a no-hitter tonight. It was a similar feeling I had on June 12, 2007. In fact, I’ve been approaching every JV start lately as if it’s going to be the next no-hitter for him. And sure enough, he had no-hit stuff, but it wasn’t quite a no-hitter. Verlander was dominant, though. He gave up just four hits and one earned run in a complete game 5-1 win that, surprisingly, only took JV 115 pitches.
LOOKS AT THE ROOKS!!
The rookies accounted for four of the Tigers five RBIs tonight and were a total 7-16.
Austin Jackson was 2-5 with the game winning RBI in the 7th inning. He improved his season average to .331. He did make a rookie mistake, though, when he decided to go to third when a ball was hit in front of him and there was no force out at third. He was out on the play, but no harm done.
Brennan Boesch was the only rookie that didn’t get involved as he was 0-3. However, he was robbed of an RBI bloop single in the first inning when Cliff Pennington made a circus Willy Mays grab.
Casper Wells had his first MLB hit and added on to that in the 7th with a 2-run double. He was filling in for Magglio Ordonez in the lineup, who was a late scratch.
Danny Worth was 3-3 playing 2B and an RBI. It’s a good thing Guillen is starting his rehab assignment on Saturday because that means Worth won’t get an extended chance at making Leyland’s decision really difficult. Either way, it still might be a tough one.
BIRTHDAY BOMBSKI
Today was Brandon Inge’s 33rd birthday and he celebrated it in style by hitting a solo blast to deep left center. It makes up for the early birthday present he was given yesterday, which was immediately taken away.
FLUKE-LIKE SYMPTOMS
Dallas Braden left in the 7th inning with what the team called flu-like symptoms when Inge homered and that was followed up by a Laird single. I call that, “your pride has been shattered, so better make up something.”
AROUND THE CENTRAL
With the Twins falling 3-2 to the Red Sox, the Tigers pick up a game in the Central Division. They are now just a game back.
Cleveland had an epic melt down in the 9th inning, giving up 5 runs to the KC Royals. They lost 8-4.
Chicago lost to the Angels, 3-2, ’cause fuck ’em, that’s why. Fuentes did try very hard to blow the save, though.
Here are the standings.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
