Last night the Tigers lost to the Orioles 7-6 when they squandered a 6-4 7th inning lead. Fernando Rodney was charged with a blown save when he gave up a couple of gopher balls in the 7th, his first runs allowed on the year. Carlos Guillen reached base 5 times and knocked in 3 runs but also made 2 errors leading to 3 unearned runs. It was the second blown save in 3 games for the Tigers (the other one by Todd Jones Friday night) and the third loss in a row. Many Tiger fans were starting to get the uneasy feeling that the team was on the brink of collapse. The Tigers had other ideas though.
The Tigers defeated the Orioles tonight 6-3 behind solid pitching from Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya and Todd Jones. Verlander game up 1 run through 6 innings but apparently tired in the 7th. He left the game with a 6-1 lead but also with the base loaded and only one out. Zumaya relieved him and hit the first batter he faced but settled down and got out of the inning with a 6-3 lead. Zoom also pitched a scoreless 8th and Jones saved it with a relatively easy 9th.
Offensively, the game was highlighted by a 4 run Tiger 7th on back to back home runs by Brandon Inge (8 home runs on the year and 4 in his last 8 games) and Curtis Granderson. Inge's homer was a 3 run shot. Magglio Ordonez failed to hit a home run for the first time in 5 games but he did go 2 for 4 with an RBI double.
Placido Polanco returned to the line-up after missing 4 games with a strained back and went 2 for 4 with a double, only his second extra base hit of the year. It was originally feared that his back problem might be more severe than a strain but tests earlier in the week revealed no Spine damage.
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The Tigers are definitely winning with pitching and home runs (although not necessarily 3 run shots) this year. Pitching and three home runs is a combo that is tough to beat.
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