So, Jose Valverde blew his first save since September 2010. By not doing so, he would’ve deprived this sellout crowd of some bottom-of-the-ninth heroics. Austin Jackson singled with the bases loaded, sending home Danny Worth with the winning room — and sending the Tigers into a mob scene near the pitcsher’s mound. It capped a big day for … Continue Reading →
Tigers closer Jose Valverde flirted with trouble often last year, even though he went 49-for-49 in save chances. He won’t be perfect in 2012, however. Valverde was hit hard early and often today and coughed up a two-run lead in the top of the ninth inning. The Tigers are coming to bat with the game tied … Continue Reading →
With the thick of the Red Sox lineup due up in the top of the ninth inning, the Tigers, no doubt, were thrilled to add their slim lead before closer Jose Valverde trots in to close it out. Prince Fielder picked up his first RBI as a Tiger, sending a 1-2 pitch from lefty Franklin Morales into … Continue Reading →
And I thought Justin Verlander’s day was done after seven. Shows how little I know. The Tigers ace came bouncing out of the dugout with a spring in his step after the Tigers got him a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh, then proceeded to shut down the Red Sox 1-2-3 before leaving … Continue Reading →
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 … Continue Reading →
Well, Miguel Cabrera finally got some action at third base. And it was, umm, interesting to say the least. The first ball hit his way came here in the top of the sixth, when Jacoby Ellsbury looped a foul pop-up that Cabrera ran to — OK, he actually overran it. He correctd himself in time … Continue Reading →
It’s 2:36 on Opening Day, and already we have our first “Second-guess Jim Leyland” moment. With two runners on to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning, Leyland essentially took the bat out of the hands of one of his best hitters, Alex Avila. I get the reasoning for a bunt: First scoring chance, … Continue Reading →
Justin Verlander’s streak of 10 consecutive Red Sox hitters retired ended with one out here in the fifth, when Ryan Sweeney singled softly to center field. The next ball put in play wasn’t hit softly, and threatened to end the scoreless tie. Ex-Tiger Cody Ross drove a Verlander pitch deep to right field, but Brennan Boesch hauled … Continue Reading →
Boesch. Cabrera. Fielder. Young. Plenty this season, those four Tigers will cause opposing pitchers to have migraines. Not so far today against Red Sox lefty Jon Lester, however. Boesch led off the fourth with a weak grounder to first, then Miguel Cabrera reached on a four-pitch walk (someday the Tigers will find some protection for … Continue Reading →
Justin Verlander was quite efficient in the top of the fourth inning. He needed just nine pitches to set down the Red Sox in order. Most impressive was his strikeout against Boston first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, one of the best hitters in the league. Verlander carved him up on a breaking ball that caught the … Continue Reading →