Game 2013.91: White Sox at Tigers

50-40, 1st place, 3.5 games up.

Last night’s win was about as ho-hum as an 8 -5 win gets. Porcello got the W by pitching well enough. Cabrera, Fielder and VMart each collected 3 hits, but only 1 XBH (a fielder HR) among them. And I gotta say, it’s a little disappointing when Cabrera only gets 1 RBI. Smyly was incredible and Benoit avoided trouble after 2 walks for his 8th save (is that in 8 chances?). Rondon makes me believe that we’ll have a new closer in here in the next 20 days.

This afternoon the Tigers face Chris Sale, who has established himself as one of the best lefties in the AL. His 5-8 record is purely a reflection of a complete lack of run support, as his stats paint him as one of the elite in the AL. Check this out (AL Rank in parenthesis):

ERA: 2.78 (4th)
WHIP: .96 (2nd)
BAA: .202 (3rd)
K/9: 9.77 (3rd)
brWAR: 4.5 (1st)

13 of his 16 starts have been quality, and he’s lost 4 games when he allowed 2 or less ER over 7+ innings. Thus, we need Sanchez to be sharp today.

Look, friends. We have to win this afternoon. You shouldn’t lose series at home, especially against the White Sox. The Rangers are coming into town tomorrow, so we’ll have our work cut out for us leading up to the AS break.

Today’s Series Winning Lineup:

1. Jackson, CF
2. Hunter, RF
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Peralta, SS
7. Tuiasosopo. LF
8. Pena, C
9. Perez, 2B

28 thoughts on “Game 2013.91: White Sox at Tigers”

  1. If fielder runs out his groundball it wouldnt have been a DP and we would have had at least 1 more run. Not surprising that Rod Allen didnt mention that!

  2. Three hits off of a LH today. That’s a very good sign for V-Mart, who was struggling against them until recently.

  3. Phil Coke’s last 10 outings before today:
    8 2/3 IP, 2.07 WHIP, 7.27 ERA, 6 BB, 5 K.

    He’s gotta be sent down. He’s not a major league pitcher right now. Hopefully he can get it back.

    1. “He’s an important part of this team. We go to get him going. Can’t do anything without him.” Etc., etc.

  4. The wheels have come off for Jhonny since the end of June: .189/.232/.245/.477 with 17 Ks in 53 AB before today.

    1. I think that’s just a slump. He’s likely not going to be an All-Star the 2nd half, but I think he’s earned some more time before we worry about him.

      1. Agreed. He hasn’t had a day off in a while, so maybe the manager should give him a chance to freshen up a bit.

  5. Another lackluster effort and Leyland continues to show that he is a complete dunderhead.

  6. yup Coke is my LH specialist and that’s how I am going to use him…..unless a RH hitter comes up!!! Mumbles…mumbles

  7. Coke won’t be here next year…..and Put[z]konen is more useless than tits on a boar. Smyly should be starting, and Porcello is a RH Nate Robertson: barely adequate mostly with a quality start here + there. Alvarez has looked crappy in his couple starts and Sanchez hasn’t really lit things up…….neither has JV. I guess Scherzer is god and has to carry the pitching load…….hope he’s up to it.

  8. Don’t get too low. And don’t get too high. Time and chance happen to all.

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