Two out of Three, Son!
By Blake VandeBunte • Apr 11th, 2008 • Category: 2008 season, Aquilino Lopez, Clete Thomas, Dontrelle Willis, Jason Grilli, Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Todd JonesThe Tigers are now officially on a mini-roll. The Tigers took on the White Sox in Chicago after the White Sox ran through the Tigers for three straight last weekend. The Tigers came out on top tonight, 5-2 and are now a healthy 2-8 on the season. A strong 2-8. The Tigers have won two out three games and appear to be getting themselves together a bit.
Dontrelle Willis didn’t record an out and came out of the game with what is being called a hyperextended knee. When I saw the injury, I have to admit, I thought we were screwed. The bullpen has been less than stellar and coughed up 8 runs just last night. Aquilino Lopez and Jason Grilli, two guys who have been given a hard time in the past combined for the following line:
- 7 innings, 3 hits, 1 ER, 7 K’s. Amazing.
Denny Bautista came on in the 8th and did his thing and Todd Jones struck out two in a perfect 9th inning for his second save of the season. Willis slipped off of the mound in the 1st inning and it was rumored that the guy was hurt anyway, we’ll have to see where this one leads.
The offense was pretty decent tonight considering the weather was cold and windy. It was Chicago in April. Clete Thomas started in LF tonight and hit lead off then delivered a couple of hits and an RBI. Trailing 2-1 in the third inning, Magglio Ordonez (who has be the opposite of clutch so far in 2008) singled in Brandon Inge and Placido Polanco, giving the Tigers the lead for good. Thomas picked up his RBI in the 7th inning and Miguel Cabrera (who had two hits) singled in Guillen in the 8th inning to make it 5-2.
The Tigers finally got two things that have been missing so far this season, timely hitting and bullpen success. The bullpen gets the game ball tonight as they really answered the call and delivered on a very tough assignment. I think it was really good for Grilli to get out of Detroit, he was getting eaten alive there. Say what you want about the guy (I’ve said it all) but he came through tonight.
The Tigers will play the White Sox tomorrow afternoon in Chicago as Justin Verlander will take on Gavin Floyd for the Sox. Floyd pitched very well against the Sox last weekend while Verlander was rocked in that 13-2 loss last Sunday. A reversal of their respective fortunes would be welcome.
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So it looks like we are posting about the same game. Sweet.
I would agree with the fact that their hitting was timely, but it was by no means, good.
At the end of the day, the story was the Tigers bullpen. A tip of the cap to them.