The Tigers finally broke their 5-game streak of allowing runs in the first inning, but still needed some late game heroics from Miguel Cabrera and Brandon Inge to edge out a 8-6 win in the final night of their 11-game road trip. Jeremy Bonderman was perfect until Josh Hamilton’s solo home run in the 4th inning, but failed to get through 6 innings. He gave up 4 earned runs on 6 hits in his 5 2/3 innings. Phil Coke got his third win of the season in 1 2/3 innings of relief while Jose Valverde picked up his 6th save in 7 chances by pitching a perfect 9th inning.
The Tigers bats started out hot with five of the first six batters reaching base safely. Miguel Cabrera’s RBI single put the Tigers up 1-0 before Ryan Raburn hit a bases-loaded double off the very top of the wall, plating 3 more runs for the Tags. The scoring would hold at 4-0 until Hamilton’s home run, but Brandon Inge made up for his bases-loaded K in the first (just before Raburn’s double) by hitting a solo home run in the top of the 5th inning. Bonderman struggled afterward, giving up 3 runs in the next 1 2/3 innings before he was replaced by Joel Zumaya. Zoom Zoom then loaded the bases in the bottom of the 7th before giving way to Coke. Coke struck out Josh Hamilton on three pitches before giving up a 2-run single to Vladimir Guerrero that tied the game at 6.
NEFTALI THE NA’VI
Before the 9th, Bob and I were wondering which character Neftali Perez was in Avatar, because it obviously isn’t a baseball name. Neftali proved us right by giving up back-to-back jacks to Miguel Cabrera and Brandon Inge (his second of the night) to break the 6-6 tie. Cabrera now has 5 home runs on the season, all of which have either tied the game or put the Tigers in the lead. Polish the MVP trophy now, this race might be over by July.
HAPPY HOUR IS 4-6
Tonight’s 4-5-6 hitters (Cabrera, Inge, and Ryan Raburn) combined for 8 of the Tigers’ 13 hits and had all 8 RBI. They also had 5 of the 8 runs and 4 of the 7 strikeouts for the Tigers. Interestingly enough, Ryan Raburn still isn’t even hitting .250 this season (he’s at .233).
USELESS STAT RANKINGS & RIDICULOUS PROJECTIONS
Phil Coke’s third win of the season ties him for the AL lead and puts him on pace for 24 wins out of the bullpen.
Papa Grande’s 6th save puts him in a tie for the AL lead. He’s on pace for 48 saves this season, a new career high.
Miguel Cabrera has 24 RBI, which leads the major leagues. He’s on pace for 194 RBI, a number that would break the 80-year-old record of 191 RBI set by Hack Wilson in 1930.
A lot of people won’t like to hear this, but Austin Jackson’s 32 strikeouts also leads the majors and puts him on pace for a record-shattering 259 K season. #FUNFACT: Former Tigers minor leaguer Cameron Maybin is second on the K list with 26.
LOOKS AT THE ROOKS
Austin Jackson went 2-for-4, pushing his season/career average up to a meaty .325. He scored a run in the first but also struck out twice.
Scott Sizemore apparently needs to get home. He went 0-for-4 tonight, completing a 4-for-22 stretch that has seen his average drop from .300 to .250. Ouch.
Brendan Boesch had the night off. Hopefully he hits a baseball onto the roof of Ford Field tomorrow.
AROUND THE CENTRAL
The Twins had the day off, giving them a big-time leg up going into a midweek three game series with the Tigers. The White Sox also avoided a case of the Mondays with no game today.
Kansas City beat Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners, 3-1. The Indians lost to the Los Angeles Angels, 5-2. They suck, if you haven’t already heard. Standings are below. (Click to enlarge)
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
