There has to be a certain amount of respect for a guy who has been struggling all year, yet once someone says a word to his manager just completely fucks a pitcher up. That's essentially what Gary Sheffield did tonight, taking Daniel Cabrera deep after he chirped at manager JIm Leyland a bit in the fifth inning.
It was a beautiful sight in the fifth inning as the benches cleared and it seemed like something was about t o go down,. There is nothing greater, in my mind, than a bench-clearing brawl in baseball. Unfortunately, the benches cleared but the brawl didn't come. Either way, it was enough motivation for Sheff to take Cabrera all the way in the bottom of the fifth to give the Tigs the lead for good.
It was an all-around good game for the Tigs as Jeremy Bonderman got his first win of the year after giving one of his lesser performances. Nine hits and a walk in five-plus is not exactly what we expect from Bondo, although the two runs in the first inning definitely are. But, it was his first decision of the year, making him a solid 1-0 heading into May.
Magglio Ordonez had another great game today, going a solid 2-2, with a double and a single and driving in a run. Sheffield also seems to be definitely picking it up, showing off his bat and his legs, scoring on a wild pitch in the seventh to start an inning that pretty much sealed the deal for the Tigs, making it 8-4. It's amazing that this guy is in his upper-30s and is still stealing bases and taking home plate on wild pitches. Things like this cause people like me to feel confidence in him, even when he's just beginning to touch the .200 BA mark.
Great performance from Fernando Rodney tonight, by the way. 2 and 1/3 shut out baseball, getting his first save of the year and preserving Bondo's win? Maybe he'll be all right after all. Another stellar performance by Wil Ledezma, going an inning and a third, walking two and striking out one to keep the game going for Fernando to take over in the seventh.
Tomorrow marks the first game that I will be attending. Stay tuned for "reports" from Comerica Park after the game tomorrow night.
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