detroit tigers

When the Tigers have really needed a win this season, Justin Verlander has delivered time and time again.  Tonight, Verlander gave up 2-run homers to the struggling slugger Adam Dunn (.160 batting ave.) and to Paul Konerko (Chicago's best hitter).  Verlander would strike both of  them out in the bottom of the 8th after the Tigers took a 5-4 lead.

The Tigers entered tonight's game with Central Division rival Chicago with a 2-game lead over 2nd-place Cleveland and a 4 and a half game lead over the 3rd-place White Sox.  It was a golden opportunity to open up some distance between Detroit and the teams pursuing the Tigers.

The Tigers start the second half of the 2011 season tonight with a big 3-game series at home against their division rivals the Chicago White Sox.  Detroit begins the stretch drive in a tie for first place with Cleveland, who won last night while the Tigers enjoyed another off day.  The American League Central

The gametime temperature in Kansas City was a humid 95 degrees.  The only thing hotter was Tiger ace Justin Verlander, who threw 7 2/3rds innings only giving up one unearned run.  Verlander picks up his 12th win of the season before the All-Star break.  The last Tiger pitcher to do that was Jack Morris in 1987.

Tiger pitching wasn't good today.  Tiger defense was worse.  Two Tiger errors led to 8 unearned runs for Kansas City, and the Royals stomped the Tigers 13-6.

Just like last night, this one came down to the very last batter.  Magglio Ordonez continued his hot hitting since coming back from the DL by blasting a two-run homer in the first inning to put the Tigers in the  lead.  They would stay there despite closer Jose Valverde's best effort to give all Tiger fans a coronary.

Ryan Raburn closed his eyes and swung the bat as hard as he could.  The Kansas City pitcher hit his bat in the sweet spot and Raburn was rewarded with a two-run homer in the second inning.  That turned out to be all the offense Max Scherzer and the Tigers would need to get their second win in a row.

Tiger starter Brad Penny gave up three runs in the first inning today.  He didn't give up another one until he allowed a solo homer in the 7th, but by then the Tigers had a lead and wouldn't relinquish it.

Justin Verlander only gave up one run last night.  That's usually good enough to win.  The Angels' Dan Haren didn't give up any as the Tigers could only manage two measley hits.  Angels 1, Tigers 0.

Charlie Furbush made his first Major League start tonight, and didn't do a bad job.  He almost got through 5 innings and his team still had a good chance to win.

The Tigers needed some of their role players to come up big for a change.   Today was the day.  Ryan Raburn has been getting booed at Comerica park lately, and deservedly so.  He strikes out a lot and has made some costly errors recently.  His batting average is floundering around .200.  He got a standing ovation from the crowd today

As I was listening to the game between the Tigers and Giants on the way home from a family get-together, I heard announcer Dan Dickerson describe the San Francisco team as "light-hitting".  Not that I am superstitious, but I knew we were doomed after he uttered those words over the airwaves.