Box Score

Summary

I can honestly say that I didn’t believe that the Tigers would be walking away from this one victorious and I was wrong. For that, I’m glad but the pitching all around, until the last two innings, was very shaky.

Detroit won this game with offense. What made the game a bit interesting was that Leyland was obviously trying to jump start the team and be a bit aggressive though each try to do so ended with an out. Detroit had a Guillen thrown out stealing and two Tigers thrown out at home.

Tigers walk away with another series and have now tied for first place due to the Orioles taking their sweep blues out on Cleveland again this evening.

Pitching

Maroth did not pitch well and really got off with much lighter than could have happened against a truly overpowering offense. He struggled with control and wasn’t able to keep the ball low resulting in three home runs against him in addition to four walks.

Jason Grilli was brought in the sixth inning to get the last out with runners on first and second. As with last night’s appearance, he had absolutely no control and threw four straight balls to load the bases. His issues with throwing strikes are to the point that he needs to go elsewhere to work it out since he has been the one brought in to get an out in sticky situations. This can no longer be counted on and that is worrisome.

Wilfredo Ledezma was then brought in with the bases loaded and walked in the go-ahead run. These pitches were much closer to the strike zone than Grilli had been throwing and the fourth ball was questionable. Wilfredo then forced the fly ball he was needing to finish the inning.

Leyland stuck with Ledezma into the seventh but control issues continued to get the best of him as he issued two walks, with two outs, to put runners on.

Mesa saw a single batter and got a ground out. This brought his ERA down a whole 2 runs!

Bobby Seay pitched a spectacular 1-2-3 8th inning. I had my doubts after watching Grilli and Ledezma team up to allow Kansas City to take the lead again.

Todd Jones pitched another perfect ninth inning.

Hitting

The Tigers offense won this game by continuously chipping away and eventually taking the lead and not looking back. Magglio continued to lead the team and accounted for two RBI’s going 2-for-4 with a double and a home run. Three other Tigers had doubles (Monroe, Thames and Polanco) which each accounted for a run.

Because of the lefty starter on the mound for the Royals the Tigers sat Granderson and Casey to start the game though they saw some play once a lead was established. Granderson, who didn’t reach base in either of his plate appearances all but made up for it with a spectacular assist from center robbing KC of a double.

Mike Rabelo had his second hit which looked quite a bit like the first; right up the middle. Pudge was 1-for-5 in the DH role which continued a bit of a slump. He swung at some pitches that he clearly should have stayed away from and you could tell by his reaction that he knew so as well. I’m not really worried with him at this time, he’ll work through it.