Well Robbie Ray’s debut was a roaring success, with Tigers knocking Astro pitching all over the place to back him up, and the Tigers now have a 7-game win streak, and at 19-9 the best record in baseball. What a great start, right? Now to match the start of the 1984 team, they only have to win…17 more in a row (that puts 1984 in perspective!)
Rick Porcello tries to build on his great start last out, and a solid 4-1, 3.66 2014 campaign. They will face Brad Peacock, who is struggling a bit (0-2, 5.26). Peacock’s biggest problem is his control (7.01 walks per 9 innings, worst in baseball), but we know those kinds of pitchers sometimes skate by against the aggressive Detroit lineup.
I’ll go with Don Kelly as the player of the game, since he’ll have to be if they pitch around Cabrera and Martinez.
Tonight’s Donkey-For-The-Win Lineup:
- Kinsler, 2B
- Hunter, RF
- Cabrera, 1B
- V. Martinez, DH
- Kelly, CF
- Castellanos, 3B
- Avila, C
- Romine, SS
- Davis, LF
Don Kelly gets a start, and bats 5th (naturally). What’s the over/under on intentional walks for Victor Martinez?
Comments
37 responses to “Game 2014: 29 Tigers 3, Astros 2”
Well, it’s only Houston, right, but Don Kelly batting 5th? Seriously?
V-Mart is striking out like crazy lately. Gotta get a reliable RBI guy in there. That’s my guess.
Seriously, I don’t have a problem where Kelly is hitting. Also, CF has to bat #5.
Another way to beat the shift.
Miggy!
Peacock had walked 20 in 25 IP before tonight, so we might be in for some easy extra baserunners.
Of course, if they thrown out stealing, that kind of negates it.
Cabrera is in another 0 for 1 slump. The inconsistency is troubling.
Hilarious.
I’m watching this game closely to see if George Springer ever blinks.
OK, he does. Think he held up on the strikeout, too.
How long can Kelly keep carrying these guys.
At least until Miggy busts out of the slump, hopefully.
Kinsler looking very sharp on that double play.
The power of the double play. Look at Porcello’s pitch count.
Am I the only one who finds it amazing that the Tigers bullpen was 1 for 75 in GIDP opportunities prior to Reed last night (now they are 3 for 77)? Is this normal for bullpens?
Oh yeah. You know why Victor is getting good pitches to hit.
They call him “The Insurance Agent.”
I wonder what Avila’s time to 1B is. 9.5 or so?
Throwing or running?
Either way. I don’t think he could throw himself there any faster.
Allowing the double now does save time for the bullpen.
Nice play to prevent the run, Mr. Hunter. Cool. Maybe Rick gets out of this one unscathed.
Hopefully Ausmus soon learns that pushing Porcello much past 90 pitches is asking fro trouble.
I don’t know. He’s looking more and more like he can do 7. Also, is a tired Porcello worse than a fresh bullpen?
OK, 95 pitches might get him through the 7th if he is on.
Yes.
Very good, Joba. Now Porcello can go back in and finish the win, right?
Add that weird foul ball to the growing list of Kinsler’s WDYDTs. (Why Did You Do That?)
This would be a good test for Coke here. I know he’s been bothered by elbow or shoulder soreness or dead arm or something, but I’m pretty sure he’s full strength now.
The expanded strike zone on Castro works for me.
What was the deal on the steal of 3B by Villar? Castellanos asleep, or…? I saw it, still not sure what to make of it.
Charge him with an error 😉
Do you think I’m a harsh official scorekeeper? Now that you mention it, i think I might have charged him with an error.
How would you score a perfect throw (into the outfield, ultimately) from a catcher that a baseman didn’t cover the base for on time? Would it still be the catcher’s error for an assumption?
E-2
I thought so. I wonder how the more advanced defensive metrics treat these situations, where the official scorekeeping doesn’t tell the whole story.
Speaking of catchers, and, to be fair about it, pitchers, Detroit is lowest in the AL in PB + WP (2 + 5) and now among the leaders in CS% (31%), allowing more than avg. SB (24) but also throwing out the most (11).
Tight game, another fine win.
Lets continue to stay on that 9 in the loss column….now that number in the win column is starting to look impressive…
sure wish the AAAstros were in the AL Central and DET ‘had to play them’ 19 times per season.
a 9-game road trip (BAL, BOS & CLE) will be a good test for this team