Box Score

Summary

Pretty disappointing loss with the Tigers missing many opportunities to score with good starting pitching on the mound. Minnesota was certainly the the team of early 2006 and their offense showed how quickly they can come to life in the eighth inning. Tigers taking the lead into the late innings seemed to be no problem last year but it is becoming more and more of an issue.

On the good side, the Tigers offense was making contact and the backend of the lineup popped into life today scoring some runs and putting the team in contention in the late innings. Tigers hitters allowed only two strikeouts through six innings but allowed one in each of the last three innings.

Pitching

Nate Robertson had yet another extremely strong outing pitching into the eighth inning allowing only a solo homerun. The long ball came from lefty Justin Morneau which was unusual for Robertson and this was an opposite field homer. Nate allowed two on in the eighth with no outs via a walk and a hit before being pulled from the game and replaced by Joel Zumaya.

Zumaya’s troubles continued tonight though his outing was nowhere near as horrible as his last. He had control of the ball and his breaking ball was nasty striking out Torii Hunter with it and getting Mauer to chase it before hitting a 2-run single. I’m not sure what the problem was with Zumaya tonight as it seemed like he was throwing the pitches, maybe Billfer of the Detroit Tiger Weblog will grace us with another throwing analysis on tonights game.

Bobby Seay came in and finished the game. Great Job. He’s starting to be the dependable one in the bullpen.

Hitting

Doubles galore! Minnesota’s Ortiz had allowed very few extra-base hits before this evening and that seemed to be all the Tigers could hit. It was a bit of a coming out party for some of the struggling Tiger batters as Monroe had two doubles and a single and Casey had one double and a single.

Gary Sheffield did not get a hit though he helped with two walks, one of which turned into a run. He also had a few good whacks at the ball with one going near the warning track. Ordonez cooled off a bit but it’s hard to keep hitting > .800 as he has on this previous road trip.

Mike Rabelo has yet to get his first MLB hit and had a great opportunity to do so in the eighth but wasn’t able to capitalize. This game by no means falls on his shoulders but having Vance out and having to sit Pudge with an injury did hurt.