A definitely downfall of that error by Miguel Cabrera back in the sixth inning: While it didn’t lead to any Red Sox runs, it did extend Justin Verlander’s inning by 10 pitches.
And now, through seven, he’s at 95 pitches — and the bullpen is warming up for the first time today.
Midseason, Verlander would be good to go for another 30 or 40 pitches.
The leash, of course, is shorter on Opening Day.
So don’t be surprised if Verlander’s done, or is done after the eighth.
If his day is over, it ended in a flourish. He’s had a knee-buckling breaking ball all day, and got two more strikeout victims on it in the seventh — Kevin Youkilis and Ryan Sweeney. He then got Cody Ross to fly to left to end the inning.
For the game, Verlander has seven strikeouts. He needs one to match his total from last year’s season opener, at Yankee Stadium.
Due up for the Tigers in the bottom of the seventh: Young, Raburn, Peralta.
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