Yeesh, Finally
By Blake VandeBunte • Sep 25th, 2008 • Category: 2008 season, Armando Galarraga, Dusty Ryan, Mike Hessman, Ramon SantiagoThe Tigers finally got back in the win column today by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park. The Tigers, previously losers of 12 of 13, hit five solo homers and held on late to win 7-5.
I was at this game so I’ll add a bit of extra information to the regular game recap. Some notes from sitting in section 141:
- Todd Jones was at the park today. Early in the game he made the walk from the dugout to the bullpen in between innings. He got a few claps but didn’t exactly acknowledge the crowd.
- It was really freaking hot. The scoreboard thermometer read 87 degrees.
- Miguel Cabrera can really pick it at first base. I like the kind of defensive player he’s becoming over there.
- The paid attendance was around 36,000. I really doubt there were more than 15,000 people there. It was a ghost town (or is it ghost stadium?).
- Armando Galarraga was un-hittable for most of the game. My dad has gone to 20 some games this season and it was the first time he saw Armando pitch.
- Galarraga was pulled with two outs in the 8th inning and got a nice standing ovation from the sparse crowd. It was nice of the crowd to pay their respects to a guy who has been one of the lone bright spots for the Tigers this season.
- It really didn’t seem like the Rays brought their “A” game. If that’s all the better Scott Kazmir can pitch then this team is in serious trouble. They also got themselves out early in the count quite often.
Ramon Santiago (seriously) led the offensive charge for the Tigers as he hit two solo homers off of Kazmir. It reminded my of a game at least five years ago in which Santiago homered twice off of Pedro Martinez. Ramon now has three homers on the season. Mike Hessman, Curtis Granderson and Dusty Ryan also homered for the Tigers. Ryan’s homer was a true tape-measure shot, an absolute bomb.
Galarraga will finish the season 13-6 with a very respectable ERA of 3.68. Fernando Rodney came on in relief and got the final four outs for his 11th save of the season.
The Tigers and Rays will go at it again tomorrow. Justin Verlander will face off against Andy Sonnanstine of the Rays. Game time is 7:05.
Blake VandeBunte is a posting fiend.
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