Metrodome Continues to Haunt Tigers

Going into this weekend's series, the Tigers were 19-10, their best start since 1984. They led the majors in ERA and and in home runs. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins were 11-17. They weren't hitting well or pitching well or doing much of anything well on the season. In fact, just last weekend, the Tigers swept the Twins at Comerica Park by a combined score of 33-1.

It seemed like the Tigers were primed for another series victory. Everything was in their favor except for one thing...The series would be played in the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome, the Tigers' house of horrors. Entering the series the Tigers had gone 10-37 there over the last 5 years and seemingly had been haunted by the place ever since the Twins beat them in the 1987 playoffs.

The first game of the series went OK as they beat the Twins 9-6. Kenny Rogers was not his usual self giving up 5 runs in 5 innings. However, the Tiger hitters backed him up with a 9 run attack which included home runs by Brandon Inge, Magglio Ordonez and Craig Monroe. They also got near flawless relief pitching from Joel Zumaya, Fernando Rodney and Todd Jones in the 7th, 8th and 9th.

The Tigers hit again in game 2 as they pounded out 10 hits including 8 for extra bases and scored 6 runs. Jeremy Bonderman did not have his best stuff giving up 5 runs in 6 2/3 innings but, thanks to some more great pitching by Zumaya, they entered the 9th inning leading 6-5. However, the always nerve wracking Toddy Jones gave up two runs for the first Tiger blown save of the year.

In game 3, Johan Santana carried a 4-0 lead and a no hitter into the 7th inning. In the 7th, Ivan Rodriguez led off with a single and red hot Magglio Ordonez followed with a two run homer to break up the no hitter and cut the lead to 4-2. The Tigers could score no more runs off of Santana or relievers Juan Rincon and Joey Nathan and the Twins won 4-2.

So the Tigers lost another series in the Metrodome. The haunted house broke their momentum once again. They now head to Baltimore for a three game series. Hopefully, Camden will be kinder.

Notes

Dmitri Young, back from the disabled list and rehabilitation, played the first two games of the series and went 3 for 8 with a pair of doubles.

In some minor league updates, Matt Mantei and Wil Ledezma both went on the disabled list, Mantei with stiffness in his right shoulder and Ledezma with a strained muscle in his right side.