Another 180 Degrees

The emotional roller coaster that is the Detroit Tigers is climbing upwards once again.

Last night's win was the kind of grind-it-out-and-hold-on-for-dear-life type of game that the Tigs don't win very often. After being victimized by poor pitching, poor hitting, and poor defense in the first game of this series, the Tigs got a solid performance out of Kenny Rogers and the bullpen. However, it was a performance that would have been much less solid without spectacular plays from Carlos Guillen, Marcus Thames, and Magglio Ordonez.

Needless to say, it was the type of game that would set the stage for what would seem to be a amazing pitcher's duel between C.C. Sabathia and Justin Verlander. In the words of Lee Corso, NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND!

THESE are the type of games were used to seeing the Tigers have. Justin was shutdown, showing more and more that he is rapidly becoming one of the top pitchers in the big leagues. Seven strikeouts and just three runs allowed over seven innings, not to mention a little shake after striking out his final batter to end the seventh. The kid just exudes confidence when he's on.

Meanwhile, in the bottom half of the innings, the Tiger bats finally woke up on this homestand. 17 hits, 12 runs, three homers, and driving out the arguably best pitcher in the bigs after just 4 innings. This was an exclamation point, a statement that no matter what, this team won't be held down for too long.

The only thing that saddens me is that this easily, easily could have been a sweep for the Tigers. If Pudge Rodriguez sends his 10th inning foul ball three feet to the left on Tuesday, the Tigers are up by a game in the division right now. Instead, they are a game back and greeting the best team in baseball to Comerica tomorrow night.

Thank god this is the last series before the All-Star break- I don't know how much more of this up and down emotional swinging I can take. I need a break.