Tigers No-Hit By Marlins
By Blake VandeBunte • Mar 22nd, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Justin VerlanderI just decided to check in on the Tigers score over at their website. I knew that Justin Verlander was pitching and I wanted to see how he did. There are two pieces of news there:
- Verlander was very good. He pitched five innings and gave up only two hits and two walks while striking out four batters. His outings continue to improve as he lowered his spring ERA to 3.10.
- The Tigers had ZERO hits. Jeff Larish managed to get hit by a pitch and Ramon Santiago and Dan Kelly worked a pair of walks. That’s it. Granted this is not the Tigers best lineup, but still. Even with some minor league guys playing, you’d like to think that as a team they could muster at least one base hit.
Ricky Nolasco started on the hill for the Marlins and he is a terrific young pitcher. He had a great season in 2008 and is probably the ace of their staff.
Former Tiger, Cameron Maybin hit third for the Marlins and went 1-4 with a single and a strikeout.
Juan Rincon threw another scoreless inning today and has yet to give up a run this spring. I’m excited that he’s playing so well, but am cautiously optimistic after Denny Bautista pulled the same trick last year and broke my heart.
Ryan Perry and Bobby Seay have both been great this spring, but both relievers gave up a run in relief, the only runs the Marlins scored all day. So, it’s not like the Tigers got dominated. The pitching was actually pretty good today. The offense obviously struggled behind the likes of Ramon Santiago, Dane SardinhaHessman and Mike .
I can’t wait until the World Baseball Classic is over and the Tigers get their fire power back.
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I agree that it’s time for the WBC to be over. I’m having a difficult time getting excited about the ‘09 season simply because spring training looks like it did in ‘95 when the strike kept the real players from camp.
You know, I feel the same way. I too have had a hard time getting all that excited for the season to start. I thought it was because the team was so bad last season but I think it may have even more to do with the “real” player being gone.