The Detroit Tigers went into the series against the Minnesota Twins having just swept the New York Yankees in their last series ever at Yankee Stadium. This is a feat that hasn’t happened for the Tigers since 1966, so perhaps they came in overconfident to face a Twins team they struggled against early in the season at Comerica Park.
In the first game of the series on May 2, the Tigers lost 11-1. Liván Hernández got the win for the Twins and Armando Galarraga had his first loss of the season. In the May 3 game, struggling hot shot, Justin Verlander pitched well until later in the game. The Twins won this one 4-1 while the Tigers offense slept through the first two games. Verlander accepted another loss as Brian Bass got the win (starter Scott Baker was injured and had to be taken out in the third) and Joe Nathan the save.
Today, Kenny Rogers looked good and the offense was alive during the first inning. From there, everything went downhill in the 7th and the Tigers were unable to recover. The offense is either alive or so sleepy nothing happens. When they sleep, players make mistakes. Marcus Thames couldn’t catch a ball Magglio Ordonez probably would have caught had he been in his usual position at center field. Carlos Guillen botched up a catch they teach little leaguers how to perfect. Miguel Cabrera stretched for a ball and couldn’t make it and all in the same inning that gave the Twins the lead the Tigers had carried throughout most of the game.
In the first, Boof Bosner gave up six runs and things didn’t look so well for the Twins. The inning started and ended with Curtis Granderson. He homered in the first at bat of the game. Placido Polanco singled. Miguel Cabrera singled. Magglo Ordonez had an RBI single as Polanco scored. Carlos Guillen singled as Cabrera scored. Renteria singled as Ordonez scored and Guillen made it to third. Pudge Rodriguez struck out, but it was on a wild pitch so he was able to steal first as Guillen scored and Renteria made it to third. A throwing error got Renteria home and the Tigers held a 6-0 lead over the Twins until the 7th inning.
Kenny had 1-2-3 innings in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Bosner also had relatively easy 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings. In the bottom of the 4th, Rogers gave up an RBI single to Justin Morneau who sent Joe Mauer home making the game 6-1. Bosner had a 1-2-3 5th inning while Kenny gave up two more runs. Nick Punto doubled sending Craig Monroe home with Delmon Young. The 6th meant both teams faced 1-2-3 innings. Then came the seventh inning stretch where the Twins took the lead.
The Tigers had an uneventful top of the 7th. While Kenny got the first two out in the bottom of the 7th it all began when Matt Tolbert doubled in the third at bat of the inning. Nick Punto singled on a throwing error by Guillen as Tolbert got to third.
Zach Miner came in to relieve Kenny, but he just made things worse. Carlos Gomez singled as Tolbert scored and Punto moved to second. Brendan Harris hit a ground rule double as Punto scored and Gomez went to third. Bobby Seay was brought in to relieve Miner. Joe Mauer singled as Harris and Gomez scored before the inning ended with a strike out by Justin Morneau. This gave the Twins a 7-6 lead.
The Tigers had the opportunity to score again, but just couldn’t capitalize on it. Bonser was relieved by Matt Guerrier in the seventh and Joe Nathan closed for the Twins in the 9th. Francisco Cruceta came in, in the 8th, to hold off anymore runs by the Twins. He did his job, but by then it was too late. The Tigers leave for home with a 3-3 road record.
The Tigers head back to Comerica Park where they’ll take on the Red Sox on in a four game series followed by a three game series with New York. Then the Tigers will finally get a much needed day off.
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Written by Dominick Evans - Visit Website
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