Justin Verlander stole the show in today's 7-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox to even the series at a game a piece and stop the Tigers two game losing skid. Verlander improved to 4-1, going 7 and 2/3 allowing just two runs and allowed just six hits on his way to the victory.
The best part about the game for me was Verlander's exit. On his 120th pitch (a little much for this early in the year, don't you think Leyland?), Kevin Youkilis took Justin deep over the center field wall. Leyland went out and made the change immediately afterwards, and as Justin strode off the field, he was given a standing ovation from the Red Sox faithful. This is why Boston is a great sports town- though their team was just shut down for the better part of eight innings, they still appreciated the job he did and congratulated him on it. Classy move by the spectators at Fenway.
Magglio Ordonez and Brandon Inge went deep for the Tigs today. Magglio extended his dominance over Tim Wakefield, now batting 15-33 against him for his career. When Mags and Gary Sheffield (1-4 with two runs scored tonight) started to get hot, this batting line up really seemed to turn around. Pudge Rodriguez also had another strong game, going 3-4 and scoring from second on a Craig Monroe single and being genuinely fired up after sliding in safe. So fired up that he let loose a giant scream and a fist pump that got him boos from the Fenway faithful. Gotta love it.
Big big game from Verlander tonight though, and it shows a lot about him. He went into one of the best hitter's parks in the majors and completely shut down one of hte league's best hitting teams for nearly eight full innings. It's the type of thing that a true ace does. From the looks of things, Jeremy Bonderman has been marked as the ace of the future. But if Verlander stays on the same learning curve that he's on now-- and stays healthy, knock on wood-- then does he become the ace of the present? Certainly performed like one today.
The Tigs seem to be doing okay on this big test in the schedule. Goal- 8-8. Currently- 3-2.
The best part about the game for me was Verlander's exit. On his 120th pitch (a little much for this early in the year, don't you think Leyland?), Kevin Youkilis took Justin deep over the center field wall. Leyland went out and made the change immediately afterwards, and as Justin strode off the field, he was given a standing ovation from the Red Sox faithful. This is why Boston is a great sports town- though their team was just shut down for the better part of eight innings, they still appreciated the job he did and congratulated him on it. Classy move by the spectators at Fenway.
Magglio Ordonez and Brandon Inge went deep for the Tigs today. Magglio extended his dominance over Tim Wakefield, now batting 15-33 against him for his career. When Mags and Gary Sheffield (1-4 with two runs scored tonight) started to get hot, this batting line up really seemed to turn around. Pudge Rodriguez also had another strong game, going 3-4 and scoring from second on a Craig Monroe single and being genuinely fired up after sliding in safe. So fired up that he let loose a giant scream and a fist pump that got him boos from the Fenway faithful. Gotta love it.
Big big game from Verlander tonight though, and it shows a lot about him. He went into one of the best hitter's parks in the majors and completely shut down one of hte league's best hitting teams for nearly eight full innings. It's the type of thing that a true ace does. From the looks of things, Jeremy Bonderman has been marked as the ace of the future. But if Verlander stays on the same learning curve that he's on now-- and stays healthy, knock on wood-- then does he become the ace of the present? Certainly performed like one today.
The Tigs seem to be doing okay on this big test in the schedule. Goal- 8-8. Currently- 3-2.
(The picture is the view from my dad's seats in the lower deck of Fenway, since he attended tonight's game and not last night's, as I incorrectly stated yesterday.)
1 comment:
thanks for the credit :-)
GO TIGERS - it was fun in beantown.
2 games left, it would be nice to get 2 wins here, 3 would be AWESOME.
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