The Tigers tonight, in game two of their series against the Yankees here at Comerica Park, look to tie their record for longest win streak in this stadium at ten. In addition to their nine-game home streak, the Tigers have won 15 of their last 16 at home, a run which began on the 4th of July.
It was a perfect night for baseball last night, and we were treated to a game which was pretty much perfect. Not in the 27-up, 27-down sense, but in terms of watching one of the all-time greats at his all-time best.
Justin Verlander tied his career high with 14 strikeouts, and were it not for his own error, very likely would have shut the Bombers out. As it was, he set a Detroit record for most strikeouts in a game against New York. It was the kind of a night that you expect you will remember for a long time.
While the Tigers have been hot of late (they've now won 5 in a row--their season long win streak is 6) New York, in spite of being tied for the best record in the league at 63-45 (.583), have struggled over the course of the last three weeks, going 6-11 (.353) in their last 17.
Here are some knock-your-eyes out numbers: during Detroit current 5-game win streak, Prince Fielder is hitting .588(!) (10x17) with 3 homers and 8 RBI. Miguel Cabrera has also hit 3 homers in the last 5 games, driving in 7 and hitting .364 (8x22). Both the Tigers superstars homered last night with Cabrera hitting the shrubbery in dead center, a blast measured at 454 feet.
The batting cage has been wheeled away, the lines drawn, and the infield is being wetted down. It won't be long now and we'll check in with you as developments warrant on this warm Tuesday night in Detroit.
First pitch came at 7:07 and it was 87-degrees (was 80 at game time last night). Both teams went down in order in the first and both pitchers, Rick Porcello for Detroit and Phil Hughes for New York, threw a mere 13 pitches. On to the second.
There were three singles in the second, two by New York and one by Detroit's Brennan Boesch, but no runner made it as far as second base. The two Yankees hits were sandwiched around a 4-6-3 double play ball off the bat of Eric Chavez, while Boesh's one-out hit was followed by Delmon Young's groundout and Jhonny Peralta's fly to right.
Through three it is as even as can be: each team has two singles, neither team has put a runner in scoring position, and Rick Porcello has thrown 42 pitches; Phil Hughes 43.
2-0, New York. With a man on and two out in the 4th, (Mark Texiera had singled after Robinson Cano grounded into New York's second 6-4-3 double play of the night) Eric Chavez got around late on a Porcello fastball but got the meat of the bat on it and hit a curving liner to left that just did sneak over the wall for his 11th homer of the year. It didn't make it by much. Chavez himself wasn't sure he'd homered, stopping at second and awaiting further instructions before completing his trip around the bases.
2-2 after 4. The Tigers come right back as Cabrera (we told you above how hot he's been during Detroit's 5-game win streak) made it 4 homers in his last 6 games and 29 for the season with a line drive blast over the left field wall on Hughes' 3rd pitch of the 4th. Boesch singled, and with two outs Peralta's liner down the third base line was fair by about a foot and Boesch came all the way around to score on the double--the 65th two-out run scored by the Tigers since the All Star break. The Tigers made Hughes throw 42 pitches in the inning--including a dozen to Boesch alone. He had thrown 43 pitches in the game prior to the 4th. Porcello gets the Yanks in order in the 5th on only 9 pitches, so we are halfway through and we are all tied up here in Detroit.
Detroit gets to Hughes for two more in the 5th and at 102 pitches, two runs in and a man on second with one out in the 5th, his night is done. Boone Logan comes in from the NY pen. Cabrera has the big hit in the inning, doubling home both Andy Dirks and Austin Jackson with a drive that landed on the warning track near the left field foul pole and one-hooped the wall. It was fortunate that it didn't one-hop over the wall as Jackson would have been forced to stop at third. As it was, he scored without a throw. Cabrera has now driven in ten runs in the last 6 games.
With his RBI double in the 5th, Cabrera is hitting .400 (10x25) in his last six games. Logan puts out the fire, as it were, and we go to the sixth with the Tigers on top, 4-2.
5-3, Detroit now, as we go to the bottom of the 7th. Andy Dirks doubled in Alex Avila with two outs in the bottom of the 6th but was thrown out trying to make it a triple to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead before doubles by Nick Swisher and Ichiro Suzuki in the top of the 7th made it 5-3 and ended Porcello's night. He gave up 3 runs on 8 hits in 6 and two-thirds. The only hit that really hurt him was the Chavez homer that just did sneak over the wall. Porcello did not issue a single walk. Brayan Villarreal has replaced him, and got the final out of the 7th with Suzuki on second.
A nice outing by Octavio Dotel--8 pitches and he retires New York in order in the 8th. Still 5-3 Tigers as we go to the bottom of the 8th, and we (likely) await Jose Valverde in the 9th. He is warming as we speak.
A big two-out single by Dirks restores Detroit's three-run lead. Valverde in, Detroit up 6-3 as the 9th begins.
The Tigers win 6-5. Valverde made it exciting, to say the least, allowing a two-run double with two outs before getting Curtis Granderson to pop up and end it with the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on second. It's a seasons-best 6-game win streak for the Tigers now and they'll try and keep it going right here against the Yankees tomorrow night.
First pitch came at 7:07 and it was 87-degrees (was 80 at game time last night). Both teams went down in order in the first and both pitchers, Rick Porcello for Detroit and Phil Hughes for New York, threw a mere 13 pitches. On to the second.
There were three singles in the second, two by New York and one by Detroit's Brennan Boesch, but no runner made it as far as second base. The two Yankees hits were sandwiched around a 4-6-3 double play ball off the bat of Eric Chavez, while Boesh's one-out hit was followed by Delmon Young's groundout and Jhonny Peralta's fly to right.
Through three it is as even as can be: each team has two singles, neither team has put a runner in scoring position, and Rick Porcello has thrown 42 pitches; Phil Hughes 43.
2-0, New York. With a man on and two out in the 4th, (Mark Texiera had singled after Robinson Cano grounded into New York's second 6-4-3 double play of the night) Eric Chavez got around late on a Porcello fastball but got the meat of the bat on it and hit a curving liner to left that just did sneak over the wall for his 11th homer of the year. It didn't make it by much. Chavez himself wasn't sure he'd homered, stopping at second and awaiting further instructions before completing his trip around the bases.
2-2 after 4. The Tigers come right back as Cabrera (we told you above how hot he's been during Detroit's 5-game win streak) made it 4 homers in his last 6 games and 29 for the season with a line drive blast over the left field wall on Hughes' 3rd pitch of the 4th. Boesch singled, and with two outs Peralta's liner down the third base line was fair by about a foot and Boesch came all the way around to score on the double--the 65th two-out run scored by the Tigers since the All Star break. The Tigers made Hughes throw 42 pitches in the inning--including a dozen to Boesch alone. He had thrown 43 pitches in the game prior to the 4th. Porcello gets the Yanks in order in the 5th on only 9 pitches, so we are halfway through and we are all tied up here in Detroit.
Detroit gets to Hughes for two more in the 5th and at 102 pitches, two runs in and a man on second with one out in the 5th, his night is done. Boone Logan comes in from the NY pen. Cabrera has the big hit in the inning, doubling home both Andy Dirks and Austin Jackson with a drive that landed on the warning track near the left field foul pole and one-hooped the wall. It was fortunate that it didn't one-hop over the wall as Jackson would have been forced to stop at third. As it was, he scored without a throw. Cabrera has now driven in ten runs in the last 6 games.
With his RBI double in the 5th, Cabrera is hitting .400 (10x25) in his last six games. Logan puts out the fire, as it were, and we go to the sixth with the Tigers on top, 4-2.
5-3, Detroit now, as we go to the bottom of the 7th. Andy Dirks doubled in Alex Avila with two outs in the bottom of the 6th but was thrown out trying to make it a triple to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead before doubles by Nick Swisher and Ichiro Suzuki in the top of the 7th made it 5-3 and ended Porcello's night. He gave up 3 runs on 8 hits in 6 and two-thirds. The only hit that really hurt him was the Chavez homer that just did sneak over the wall. Porcello did not issue a single walk. Brayan Villarreal has replaced him, and got the final out of the 7th with Suzuki on second.
A nice outing by Octavio Dotel--8 pitches and he retires New York in order in the 8th. Still 5-3 Tigers as we go to the bottom of the 8th, and we (likely) await Jose Valverde in the 9th. He is warming as we speak.
A big two-out single by Dirks restores Detroit's three-run lead. Valverde in, Detroit up 6-3 as the 9th begins.
The Tigers win 6-5. Valverde made it exciting, to say the least, allowing a two-run double with two outs before getting Curtis Granderson to pop up and end it with the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on second. It's a seasons-best 6-game win streak for the Tigers now and they'll try and keep it going right here against the Yankees tomorrow night.
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