Monday, September 04, 2006

Tigers Top Mariners 6-2

The Tigers beat the Mariners in today's Labor Day afternoon game 6-2. They got the usual good pitching but today they also scored some runs this time. Here are the highlights:

  • Nate Robertson pitched another 7 innings allowing 2 runs on 8 hits. He has now pitched 6 or more innings in 18 of his last 19 starts and 13 of the18 have been quality starts. Prior to that, he made it through 6 innings in just 29 of his 43 previous starts giving him a reputation as a pitcher who did not have the stamina to consistently pitch deep into games.
  • Magglio Ordonez hit a two run home run in the first inning which put them ahead 2-1. It was his first home run in Comerica Park and his 7th overall since June 3. They really need him to start hitting and hitting with power consistently the way he did in the first half.
  • Omar Infante had a 10 pitch at bat in the 7th inning and was rewarded with a two run double. He now has 14 hits in his last 29 at bats raising his batting average from .260 to .292.
  • Chris Shelton made his return today and walked in 3 plate appearances. That is not much of a highlight but he did seem to be laying off the outside pitch, something he was having trouble with before his demotion.

Injury Update

Infante and Ramon Santiago held down the middle infield positions for the second straight day and knocked in 3 runs between them but the shades of 2003 are still a bit unnerving. Danny Knobler reports that Carlos Guillen may be back this weekend:

Jim Leyland said after today's game that he now thinks Carlos Guillen will be back for this weekend's series in Minnesota. Guillen strained his right hamstring Saturday night. He was able to run at three-quarters speed before today's game.

He also reported that Placido Polanco may return as early as next week.

Walk Off Homer for Carlos Pena

Carlos Pena, now of the Red Sox, helped the Tigers today by hitting a walk off home run in the 10th inning to beat the White Sox 3-2. Pena, who grew up and went to college in Massachusetts called it a dream come true. He said he's been imagining himself hitting a game winning homer in Fenway Park since he was 12 years old.

The White Sox loss dropped them into 3rd place 5 games behind the Tigers. The Twins, who beat the Devil Rays 2-1 today, moved into second place 5 games behind.

5 comments:

  1. Pena's blast may have been his biggest hit ever for the Tigers ! I lead the charge to get him off the Tigers team, but it was nice to see him have success. From what I gather he's a good person, I'd have felt that way if his hit had not helped the Tigers.

    Good points on Shelton/Infante. Looked like Infante took what he learned last night when he struck out in a similar situtation and applied it today.

    Shelton appears to have some of his plate discipline back. When he starts to drive those outside fastballs to right field again, I'll be much happier.

    Big win, need to get at least 2 of 3 and win a series. It's been a while.

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  2. I always liked Carlos. I was disappointed it didn't work out, but hey, both sides tried long enough. I hope he catches on and puts it together and finds success many more times for the Red Sox.

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  3. Hey Kurt, Thanks for the support regarding the Mets being the best team in baseball on the tigers blog. I thought I was losing my touch. GO TIGERS

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  4. Tigers release DH Dmitri Young

    DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers unconditionally released designated hitter Dmitri Young after Wednesday’s loss to the Seattle Mariners.

    Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said the move was “strictly performance related.”

    Young was activated from the disabled list July 21 after he left the Tigers on May 22 to undergo treatment for substance abuse at a California rehab center. He was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Wednesday’s 5-4, 10-inning loss.

    “I’m not going to talk,” said Young, whose bags were packed for the upcoming series at Minnesota.

    Young spent 30 days in the rehabilitation facility and three weeks working out with minor league teams. He concluded his time away from the Tigers by hitting .452 in eight games at Triple-A Toledo.

    Young, a switch hitter, was batting .250 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs for the Tigers this season. He hit .271 with 21 homers and 72 RBIs for Detroit last year.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Maybe I should have read the 4th comment before writing down my Dmitri Young story! Thanks for the tip anyway.

    ReplyDelete

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