Tigers Bounce Back

The Tigers rebounded from yesterday's disaster by topping the Blue Jays 5-3 today. It wasn't easy though. They managed only 3 hits off Blue Jays' Starter Ted Lilly, who came within one out of a complete game, but they made most of their hits.

Lilly pitched a strange game. After retiring the first 4 Tiger hitters of the game, he walked two batters with one out in the second and then allowed a three run homer to Brandon Inge (his team leading 13th of the year). Lilly then retired 5 more in a row before an error by Shea Hillebrand allowed Magglio Ordonez to reach first leading off the 4th. Marcus Thames then hit a two run blast (his 12th of the year in just 115 at bats) making it 5-0 at the time. Lilly proceeded to retire the next 15 in a row before being removed from the game after an Ordonez double with two out in the 9th.

Meanwhile, Zach Miner pitched a solid game allowing just 2 runs on 4 hits and a 2 walks in 6 innings against a tough Blue Jay line-up. He left with a 5-2 lead after 6 but so did Bonderman last night. With Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney unavailable to pitch today, Roman Colon was brought into the game in the 7th. He allowed 1 run in 2 innings and left with a 5-3 lead.

Tiger fans watched in horror as Todd Jones warmed up in the bullpen between innings. They feared the worst when he came in to pitch the 9th. He retired the first two batters but then put the next two men on base and up to the plate stepped hot hitting Alexis Rios. Many had visions of a walk off three run homer Jones put their worries to rest by getting Rios on a grounder. So, the roller coaster still has his job and the Tigers still have the best record (39-23) in the majors.