PREGAME: Ahh, the Metrodome. Yeah.

Anyways, tonight we have ourselves a rematch of a couple of lefties. The first time Mike Maroth and Johan Santana hooked up the Tigers got the upper hand with some homers by Magglio Ordonez and Marcus Thames. Brandon Inge got the last big fly with a walk off homer off of Jesse Crain.

The Twins will be without Joe Mauer who is on the DL. And Luis Castillo has some sore legs and took the day off yesterday.

Game Time 8:10pm

POSTGAME: There’s just something about taking a game from Johan Santana. Not in the “I hate him” sort of way, but more in the “how are we going to win this game?” sort of way.

Much like the last time they hooked up, the Tigers made Santana throw a lot of pitches the first time through the lineup. Then the second time they started jumping on the first pitch fastballs. The damage was limited, thanks in part to a couple sweet plays by Jason Kubel, but it was enough as Mike Maroth managed to allow only 1 run in his best outing of the year.

It seemed like the Tigers were the beneficiary of the metrodome more than the Twins for a change. Both triples (Guillen and Granderson) were turf induced, and Guillen’s RBI single probably doesn’t make it through on grass either.

And not to be cynical or anything, but as it gets into the late innings does anyone else think of the term “insurance runs” and think they are really “Rodney runs.” Things continue to be a struggle for him.

PREGAME: I guess it’s just time to start another 8 game winning streak. The pitching match-up certainly looks favorable with Jeff Weaver taking on Justin Verlander.

Weaver has made 5 starts and only lasted 17 1/3 innings. But they’ve been productive innings (for the other team) with 29 runs allowed. Of course, the Tigers seem to struggle against Weaver. His ERA against the Tigers is 2.53 in 3 starts, and that doesn’t even include the post season last year.

On the other side is Justin Verlander, who for only the 4th time this year won’t be facing the Royals.

Game Time 1:05

PREGAME: An interesting blurb on ESPN.com this morning cited that the Tigers, the current owners of an 8 game winning streak, haven’t won 9 games in a row since 1984. To keep the streak alive they are going to rely on Nate Robertson to do battle with Cha Seung Baek.

Game time barring rain delays is 7:05pm

POSTGAME: Eh, what are ya gonna do? This game started out great with the Tigers connecting for runs in each of the first 2 innings on a leadoff homer and triple. Meanwhile Nate Robertson retired the first 7 Mariners with ease. Next thing you know the Tigers get stuck on the 3 hit mark while Seattle connects for 10 hits off of Nate Robertson. A poor showing by Jason Grilli pretty much ensured the Tigers weren’t coming back in this one.

• When Jose Guillen took Nate Robertson deep to take the lead, it was only the 3rd tater that Nate had allowed this year.
• It seemed pretty clear that the Tigers as a team had a game plan to jump on first pitch fastballs. It appeared to be a decent strategy generating a number of hard hit balls. Trouble was that only a few of them fell for hits. I don’t think this was the team reverting back to their old ways of being overagressive, I think it was by design.
• Placido Polanco swung and missed twice last night. You just know something wasn’t right.
• Inge had 2 hits last night pushing his average to .200. Exciting? No. But at least all the starters are off the interstate.

Mariners 9 Tigers 2

PREGAME: The Tigers return home riding a 7 game winning streak. In fact, no Detroit team has lost since April 30th when the Red Wings dropped a game to the Sharks.

Jeremy Bonderman takes the mound with a little extra rest taken to heal a blister. It sounds like the blister effects him primarily on his 2 seam fastball. If we’re seeing lots of groundballs tonight that means he’s probably feeling okay.

The Tigers will be opposed by lefty Horacio Ramirez. With the southpaw on the mound Omar Infante will get the start in centerfield and Pudge Rodriguez will lead off. Sean Casey, who is 5 for 13 with a homer off Ramirez will get the start at first. Ramirez’s strikeout and walk rates aren’t particularly impressive, but he has kept the ball in the park with only 2 homers in 20.3 innings this year.

Game Time 7:05pm

POSTGAME Seven in a row is good, but 8 is great.

• The bottom of the order came up big going 7 for 10 with 7 RBI. Monroe and Inge took a while to get going, but along with Omar Infante they carried the offense today.
• I watched this game and I still can’t figure out how Bonderman surrendered 5 runs. He had the slider working and was locating his fastball well as evidenced by the 7 K’s and 2 BB’s. Of the 7 hits he allowed 3 were of the infield variety and 2 of them could have been double plays if they hadn’t been hit so weakly.
• Now there is no doubting the Sexson homer. Bonderman tried to sneak in a fastball on the inner part of the plate while ahead in the count. In retrospect it was a bad move, but I understand the thinking. It was reasonable to expect Sexson to be looking for the slider away, and an inside fastball could have frozen him. It didn’t hit and ended up in the seats.
• Bobby Seay was pretty awesome. Fernando Rodney not as much. Thank goodness for the offense.
• Todd Jones actually pitched pretty well, but got some huge help from his corner outfielders who both made web-gem type catches. I’ve ragged on Ordonez for not going after balls before, but I have to commend him on this one. Good thing he made the catch though or the tying run is in scoring position.

Tigers 9, Mariners 7

PREGAME: The Tigers are looking for their second series sweep in a row and to build on a 6 game win streak. They’ll be sending out Chad Durbin, who is looking to rebound after spending the better part of his last start looking for the plate. Durbin walked 6 in 3 2/3 innings in his last start.

He’ll be taking on Zach Grienke who was pretty impressive in 3 of his starts in which he combined to allow 2 earned runs in 20 innings. But in his other 3 starts he allowed 14 runs in 10 2/3 innings. One of those was against the Tigers in which he didn’t make it out of the first inning and he racked up 49 pitches.

Game Time 2:10

PREGAME: My buddy Russ said I shouldn’t write about the Tigers 5 game winning streak, so I won’t.

Tonight it will be a battle of southpaws with Mike Maroth taking on Odalis Perez.

Perez has been pretty consistently not-bad this year. He’s allowed either 3 or 4 runs in each start, and pitched 5 to 6 innings in every start but one.

Game Time 7:10pm

PREGAME: The Tigers make their second trip to Kansas City already this season.

In the series opener they’ll face Brian Bannister. Bannister has made 2 starts this year, and he allowed 4 runs (3 earned) in each start. He did rack up some big pitch totals with 82 in 4 1/3 in his first start and 99 in 6 2/3 in the 2nd.

The Tigers will send out Justin Verlander. Verlander has a 1.36 career ERA over 33 innings against the Royals.

Game Time 8:10pm

PREGAME: The Tigers have a chance for a sweep today. They’ll send out their Pitcher of the Month for April, Nate Robertson.

Steve Trachsel will take the mound for the Orioles. With a day game after a night game, and an off day tomorrow, Leyland usually likes to give Pudge Rodriguez the day off. But with 3 homers in 15 at-bats off of Trachsel, that decision becomes a little more difficult.

One guy who will get the day off is Carlos Guillen who is still battling shoulder tendinitis.

Game time 1:05

POSTGAMEOnce again a Tiger pitcher racked up a big pitch count against the Orioles. They made each of the starters work in this series, they just didn’t have many runs to show for it. Nate Robertson struggled with his control early, but limited the damage to 2 runs as he stuck around until he was one out shy of finishing the 7th.

Offensively Gary Sheffield was the man with 4 hits including his 3rd homer. With Sheff’s recent tear, and a couple of hits by Monroe and Casey, the 3 have pulled themselves above the mendoza line. Brandon Inge is the only starter under .200 and at .165 he’s at his highest point of the season. He’s also gone 4 games now without a strikeout.

Tigers 3 Orioles 2

PREGAME: If the rain holds off it’ll be Chad Durbin and Adam Loewen.

Durbin is coming off an outstanding effort against the White Sox on the road. Loewen, has been battling control issues with 5-7-5 walks in his last 3 games.

Carlos Guillen gets his first night off and Neifi Perez will play shortstop with Omar Infante manning centerfield.

Game time (theoretically) 7:05pm

POSTGAME: After a couple of solid starts, Chad Durbin couldn’t find the strike zone with GPS. The Tigers were fortunate to still be in this game after 6 walks in 3 2/3 innings.

Bobby Seay did a great job in relief not allowing a baserunner until he’d retired 7 straight.

While Seay was great, Zumaya was outstanding. He gave up a run scoring single, but that was more a credit to Miguel Tejada. He went down and got a low fastball and bounced through the middle. There wasn’t really any solid contact and Joel had his heater and curve ball working – even throwing in an 88mph change up.

Placido Polanco didn’t take well to that swing and miss last night, and responded with 4 hits. Brandon Inge had his 3rd straight day of decent at-bats. Gary Sheffield deserved better than an 0fer with several hard hit balls and one he just missed on.

And with the surprise of all surprises, Sean Casey picked up a stolen base. His first since July 9th 2005.

Tigers 5 Orioles 4

PREGAME: It’s a beautiful night here in Detroit and a pretty good pitching match-up.

Daniel Cabrera stymied the Tigers the last time they met allowing only 2 runs and no walks as he pitched into the 8th.

Jeremy Bonderman has pitched very well for most of the season, save for the first couple innings of his last start. He’s sporting a K/BB ratio of 29/4 which should have earned him a win or two at some point.

Game Time 7:05pm

UPDATE: Okay, 45 minutes after commenting on how nice it is it becomes really overcast. I need to pay attention to the weather. Is this the game where the Tigers come out gangbusters and put a bunch of runs on the board for Bonderman, only to have the game rained out before it becomes official?

POSTGAME: Bondo gets a win – in start in which he probably had the least command. Funny how baseball works out.

Miguel Tejada provided the spark and Sheffield started the fire. (look at me with bad metaphors). With Tejada getting upset at an inside pitch, Daniel Cabrera retaliating against Sheffield (who went on to score), and then Bonderman re-retaliating against Tejada again, the Tigers got fired up.

Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez were only retired one time between them. The combined to draw 4 of the Tigers 8 walks.

And the bullpen made a lead stand up, without a lot of effort. Wil Ledezma put a couple runners on with walks, but a failed sacrifice and 2 caught stealings were a nightmare for those who are proponents of small ball.

Fernando Rodney got the save in 2 1/3 innings with the only runner coming on an error by Brandon Inge.

PREGAME: The Tigers look to stave off the sweep and they’ll have their hands full with Johan Santana.

He’ll be opposed by Mike Maroth. Maroth has struggled with consistency this year, and couldn’t make it the 5 innings to qualify for the win last week in LA.

Maroth told Mario Impemba that he’s been struggling with his release point this year. Fortunately we can take a look at this. Maroth has 2 starts in enhanced GameDay parks.

He seems to have a almost a foot of variability laterally, and it seemed to be more pronounced in the Angels game.

Game Time 1:05pm

POSTGAME: Today was pretty much the antithesis of yesterday’s effort. Win or lose, the Tigers played a much more complete game today. While Johan wasn’t Freakin’ Johan today, the Tigers played a part in that. They forced 114 pitches in only 6 innings, drawing 3 walks. And it’s not that Santana was wild (80 strikes vs. 34 balls), but the Tigers managed to hang around in at-bats long enough for something to happen. While they didn’t break through for many runs, they had Santana pitching from the stretch the whole game.

Individually, Magglio Ordonez is as locked in as it gets. And Brandon Inge at least got a one day reprieve from his slump reaching base every time and of course knocking the walk-off homer. Hopefully it’s the beginning of something rather than a blip. It’s always nice to see a struggling player be the hero.

Mike Maroth pitched his best game of the year, and with only 1 walk, seemed to regain some of his control.

The bullpen did their job, although Joel Zumaya did allow 2 walks and a deep fly. At least no runs crossed the plate, and Zumaya retired some tough hitters. I still think there is something more than a confidence problem, but I’ll take the positive results.

And as a final note, Placido Polanco was 6 for 6 in making contact on swings today pushing the streak to 105. (ed waffle note: My numbers are 3 pitches off of the numbers at Baseball Reference for the pitches Polanco has seen. One of those pitches was a strike. So this isn’t “official” but I’m working to clarify.)

PREGAME: The Tigers take on the Twins in an afternoon tilt today. The pitching match-up is Justin Verlander taking on Carlos Silva.

Last year the Tigers rocked Silva, as did many teams. The torched him for 9 runs on 3 homers in 3 2/3 innings. Of course Silva has been much better this year not allowing more than 3 runs in any of his 4 starts.

Verlander made 3 starts against the Twins last year, and allowed 2 run in 20 innings.

And continuing the streak, Placido Polanco swung 7 times and made contact each time last night. By my count that is 95 straight swings with contact.

Game Time 1:05

POSTGAME: I was out and about for most of this one, so I heard parts of the misery on the radio. I went back and watched parts of the game later at night, and it was still pretty brutal. Yuck.