The Detroit Tigers started off a tough two weeks by beating the Cleveland Indians last night...
The Tigers beat the Indians 6-2 last night in ten innings. It was a must win, and they delivered. Jeremy Bonderman pitched seven innings, six of them strong, and got a no decision.
Again, his first inning woes came out. What helped this time is it didn't take too long to give up the two runs. He let a runner on and gave up a quick homer, and then he settled into a groove, and the Indians did not score in the next nine innings.
What helped the most is that he didn't throw too many pitches in that all-important first inning. Lately, he's been throwing around 30 pitches in the first and he has to leave the game early, not matter how well he pitches after that. However, Bonderman would be a Cy Young candidate if he could get through the first.
The Tigers scored one in the sixth and another in the seventh off leadoff doubles to tie the game. The real heroics came in the eighth when Tim Byrdak let a couple runners on, but got Travis Hafner to fly out to Curtis Granderson to end the inning. Granderson got on his horse and made a diving catch just inches above the turf. Normally, he wouldn't be in the lineup with a lefty, C.C. Sabathia, getting the start, but Jim Leyland put him in the game, and though he didn't deliver at the plate against Sabathia, he was the only Tiger that would have had any chance at catching that ball.
After a scoreless ninth, Granderson led off the 10th with a walk and was moved over to third on a bloop single. Gary Sheffield came up, and though he looks like he's hurt and can't swing for the fences at this stage of the season, he delivered with another bloop single to put the Tigers ahead. Magglio Ordonez hit the next pitch into the left field stands and it was 6-2 just like that. Todd Jones pitched his normal final inning letting a couple runners on and then not giving up a run. He didn't get the save, but he preserved the win nonetheless.
Speaking of perserving the win, Fernando Rodney did the same in the 9th inning. After giving up a leadoff double, he struck out the next three hitters, hitting 98 miles per hour on the gun. With his fastball getting over the plate as consistently as it did last night, his changeup will be devestating down the stretch.
Tonight, the game is on ESPN, and Jair Jurrjens takes the mound. The last time the Tigers gave a pitcher his major league debut on ESPN, they lost 16-4, so let's hope that doesn't happen this time. This is a big game for a team that has eight games with the Yankees in eleven days starting tomorrow, so a two-game cushion looks a million times better than a tie coming out of this series.
After four at New York, the Tigers welcome Cleveland to town for a three-game set. If the Tigers can keep even with the Indians through that series and the four at home against the Yankees that follow, the schedule gets increasingly easier down the stretch. First, they go to Kansas City for three, and though the Royals aren't the pushover they were a year ago, the Tigers should take at least two of three. After that, they go to Oakland for their last west coast trip of the season. (finally)
Then, it's a ten-game homestand in nine days with a day off before and after. If they can get three on Cleveland before that, they will only have to take one of three to stay ahead when they go to Jacobs Field September 17th.
Better watch out for the Twins, though, at the same time...
