All in All, It Could Have Been Worse

The Tigers ended their 7- game losing streak Wednesday night with a 4-1 win over Texas and moved back to within 2.5 games of first-place Chicago as the White Sox, three outs away from an 11-inning, 1-0 series sweeping win at Seattle, instead permitted the M’s to score twice in the bottom of the 11th to pull out a 2-1 Seattle victory.

So, when you look at what could have happened, the Tigers got out of this mess—this mess being their season’s-longest losing streak—in much better shape than they realistically could have hoped would have been the case.  If Minnesota hadn’t beaten the White Sox a couple of times over the weekend, and had the Mariners not come back the way they did, Detroit could well have wound up 5.5 games out of first, not two-and-a-half.

I was very much impressed (again) by 25 year-old Max Scherzer tonight.  You could make the case that since he returned from a “you’re not pitching well enough to stay up here right now so go down to Triple A Toledo and get your act together” demotion in May, Scherzer has been the best starter Detroit has got.   He was seven innings strong tonight, 123 pitches strong tonight.  His finest moment came in the 4th when he allowed a leadoff triple and stranded the runner right there where he was. 

The Tigers got a huge 2-run homer early from the bat or whatever it is that Gerald Laird has been holding in his hands when he steps into the batters box.  That would be the crude wooden implement which has produced for Laird a batting average which so far has yet to go north of .200 this season.  (Laird entered the season with a career BA of .247., for the record.)

The Tigers added a pair of add-on runs in the 7th and then, after Scherzer gutted his way out of a two-on with one out scenario in the 7th with the final few of those 123 pitchers, Phil Coke threw gas in the 8th, dismissing the Rangers on 12 pitches, fanning two of his three hitters.  Jose Valverde, El Papa Grande himself, finished ‘em off in the 9th, although not in the 1-2-3 dominant style to which we have become accustomed.  Valverde gave up a shutout-spoiling run without permitting a hit.

Toronto’s coming to town next for four starting with a daytimer tomorrow.  They’ll be tough.  The Blue Jays have won 48 games this year.  Detroit has won 49.  Get the picture?

See you down at the ballpark!