Thursday, July 20, 2006

No More Doubt

The Tigers should hear no more talk of not being able to play with the big boys after taking 2 of 3 from the White Sox this week. They came from behind for the second straight game to top their archrivals 2-1 today before a standing room only crowd on a weekday afternoon game at Comerica Park. It was a duel between Kenny Rogers and Jose Contreras with Contreras getting the best of it in the early going as the White Sox led 1-0 after 5 1/2 innings. Not surprisingly, it was Tiger Killer Joe Crede who singled in the only Chicago run in the 4th.

In the bottom of the 6th, Curtis Granderson doubled with one out and scored on a two out single by Ivan Rodriguez tying the game. Joel Zumaya relieved Rogers in the 7th and got through the inning allowing just a single. In the bottom of the 7th, Marcus Thames walked with one out, and scored on a two out double by slumping Chris Shelton who had failed to get a hit in his last 13 at bats. It was the second straight game that an unlikely hero knocked in the eventual game winner. Last night, of course, it was Monroe with his grand slam.

With the Tigers up 2-1, Zumaya pitched a scoreless 8th including a fist pumping inning ending strike out of the dreaded Crede. Todd Jones (who has not allowed a run in 9 straight appearances) pitched a rare 1-2-3 9th to save the game giving the Tigers a 2-1 series victory. It was series which should end all doubt that the Tigers are real and can play with anyone.

2 comments:

  1. I couldn't watch yesterday's game because I was at work. I could only hear bits and pieces on the radio. I wasn't even aware of Thames' slide until later. I saw all of Tuesday night's game and it was awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 27, 2006

    Zumaya is so fun to watch!

    ReplyDelete

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