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.
Comments
55 responses to “Game 31: Mariners at Tigers”
I renew my proposal to let Billfer pitch the first inning of Bonderman’s starts.
Oh, Lawd. 3-0 already.
Yes. I’d like to see Bonderman’s collected stats for first innings this season. Runs, ERA, etc. And then compare that to ALL OF THE REST OF THE INNINGS HE FREAKING PITCHES.
Thank you.
Oh, and just because we’ve won 7 in a row, it’s not okay to lose this game. Not at all.
Adam
They just showed that stat 13.63 in first innings
1.91 innings 2 on
Gee, Magglio sure loves to double.
Thanks Craig – I’m relegated to watching the game on Gameday today, as I’m in Chicago and have no television/dish.
Nice double by Casey. But it was kinda iffey if he’d be able to get up after sliding into 2nd.
…aaaaand Sean Casey wins the race to .250.
Who picked that horse? I sure didn’t.
Inge is still racing himself to .200. Hehe.
I had a dish installed over the weekend, so this is the first game i’ve been able to see all year. I have had to rely on XM. Now I’ll never get any work done.
Also curious – what are Casey’s splits for May? He must be batting well past .450
4th double of the inning!
And the Tigers go double happy. WOOO I LOVE IT.
Another note – Both Craig Monroe and Sean Casey enter today’s game with a 5 game hitting streak.
Casey’s already extended his to 6.
They gave that stat as well I think they said 461 or 471 in the last 7 games.
Wow. Not counting this game, Casey’s batting .538 in May, going 7 for 13 with 2 doubles.
Now it’s 8 for 14 with 3.
Next: Inge in May – He’s now 6 for 20 (.300) with 3 doubles.
Anyway, it’s nice seeing the bottom of the order get things done for a change. I knew they were there for a reason.
Don’t walk him just cause he got you the first time, Bondo – YOU’RE FREAKING BONDO!!!
…..aaand that’s why you don’t freaking walk him. Jeez.
You hate to see a guy punished for throwing good pitches.
Come on Omar, just a nice, deep fly ball. No groundouts. No, no.
I love you Omar Infante.
I like the May version of this offense. Infante is my Tiger.
Here’s a question. Do the Tigers seem faster this year? They are running the bases a lot better.
Faster? Yes, with the exception of Maggs and Thames. And Casey (how does he get faster? Surgery?)
offense 5.03/runs per game in April 6.67/pg in May so far
defense
April they gave up 4.73/rpg
May so far 3.66/rpg
I don’t know about faster, but they seem more professional generally. Fewer swings at bad pitches, fewer base running mistakes, more patience/confidence when they get behind, etc.
Hey so, how close was that to being a home run? Gameday shows it right at the wall.
It hit the edge of the warning track and bounced over the wall. Looked like a HR off the bat.
Is anyone else wondering who’s gonna pitch in the 7th. Don’t blisters eventually turn into callouses? Can he put a bandaid on it?
Injury Delay?!? Who got hurt?
No delay. Bondo seems to be having issues with a blister.
Anyway, here starts our bullpen adventure. Fingers, cross ’em!
Blistered finger. How can you complain about that when Zumaya’s got a busted one? Or when Kenny Rogers’ arm basically fell off?
Seay looks good today. 1-2-3.
Seay was great. Now they’ve got Jose warming up. Hope he’s feeling better.
Jose? Me too. Personally, I wouldn’t trust him with a 10 run lead. Even bad pitchers get lucky sometimes too though, right?
I LOVE GARY SHEFFIELD’S MAY HOME RUN BAT.
The Tigers answer to Zoom’s injury?
Score a boat load of runs!!
He’s just getting better and better. I think not playing last year for the most part set him back and he’s just now getting back in the groove.
That sure is one of the answers (scoring a boatload of runs) and pitchers stepping up. But we’re not gonna win every game.
Where has your control gone, Sean Green? I stole it. You can have it back after the game.
How bout a good double play right about now?
Oh, Rodney.
Kinda makes you wonder what the umpire was looking at on that Sheff caught stealing.
So is Jonesy going to take care of us tonight?
Why was Sheffield stealing there?
I can’t watch
GRAIG!!!! WEBGEM!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!
MAGGS!!!! WEBGEM!!!! WOOHOO!!!!
Maggli-OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!
Rodney tried to his best to lose it for them tonight!
Great win guys. Let’s keep piling them up while we can, extend the roll as long as possible.
How many doubles tonight? Seven? More? Weird.
Rod Allen has a man crush on craig monroe
I have a man crush on Janet Reno