Tigers Win 2nd Straight Behind 3 HR Inning

Game in a Nutshell

The Tigers were finally back in Detroit tonight to take on the Texas Rangers. With their ace on the mound, the Tigs really put a pounding on the Rangers with a 10-2 win. Justin Verlander pitched six innings, giving up only one run on a solo home run. Four different relievers combined to pitch the final four innings, giving up just a second run.

While the pitching was very good, it was the bats that starred tonight in the D. Coming into the bottom of the 3rd with a 2-1 lead, the Tigers hitters went on a scoring spree behind back-to-back home runs from Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera, and then a third homer, this time a two-run shot by Ramon Santiago. Santiago, filling in for Placido Polanco and his back injury, went 2 for 3 on the day with 3 RBIs. Edgar Renteria (4-4), Jacque Jones (2-3) and Brandon Inge all scored 2 runs for Detroit.

This is the second straight win for the Tigers, who at 8-13 are now 4 1/2 games behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox. Kenny Rogers will face Luis Mendoza tomorrow night as Detroit looks to continue to climb their way out of the AL Central cellar.

Bullpen Watch

Zach Miner started the 7th tonight, but struggled in a short outing. Miner gave up a couple of hits and a run, and was able to get just one out before being pulled for Bobby Seay coming in to face the lefty. Seay hit his spots tonight, getting four outs without giving up a hit with one walk. With two outs in the 8th, Denny Bautista came in and immediately gave up a walk. Bautista then got out of the inning, getting Ben Broussard to pop out to Pudge, who made a fantastic catch reaching over the wall. Jason Grilli came in for the 9th with an 8-run lead (the time we want to see Grilli), and looked good. He pitched a 1-2-3 inning, and struck out Josh Hamilton to end the game. Four innings and just one run from the 'pen, we gotta love that. They're slowly earning my trust.


Concern Level: 5 out of 10




Today's Key Play


I think when Miguel Cabrera's line drive down the left field line went out of Comerica's yard, this game was pretty much over. The second of back-to-back homers opened the onslaught of a five-run inning and a blowout win. 15 runs in two days without Granderson, Polanco, and Sheffield is pretty solid, I would say.




Tiger of the Game: Ramon Santiago



Not only did Ramon Santiago's two run home run in the 3rd blow this game open, he also gave the Tigers their first lead with a 2nd inning RBI double. His 3 RBIs and a run scored out of the 9-hole was a huge boost to a lineup that's been hit by injuries. Santiago is always solid in the field; the fact that he's hitting .467 in the early season is gravy.