Game 103: Tigers cool Twins, win 70th
posted in Minnesota Twins |I could probably add “surprise Tigers fans by taking series” to the headline, given what I and others said coming into the series at the HHHorrorDome.
The Tigers led, 6-0, in the fourth inning but Minnesota would not go away before the Tigers felled them, 8-6.
Todd Jones allowed one run but had a three-run cushion. After all his 1-2-3 innings lately, it’s allowable. Nate Robertson pitched for a quality start, but got hit hard in the seventh. And Curtis Granderson and Dmitri Young each homered. Granderson had three RBIs and is quite the big-game player. Oh, and Brandon Inge is still hitting, going 3-for-4.
The Tigers jumped on the Twins by getting the first six baserunners aboard and scoring two first-inning runs. They loaded the bases before Minnesota starter Brad Radke managed to get an out. It probably could have been a bigger inning than it was, but it certainly could have been a smaller inning than it was, too, if the Twins had turned either double play attempt successfully. Instead, it was two runs scored on fielder’s choice. Some big ball with the home runs, some small ball with the sacs, and the deep and varied Tigers offense got hits and runs from all over the lineup during a third straight game without Pudge Rodriguez.
The 70-33 record means Detroit has a shot to meet last year’s win total (71) by the end of July. Maybe not against Johan Santana (given the first two games, who knows) today, but definitely against Tampa Monday.
Pudge may miss today’s game too, as Danny Knobler reports Pudge’s thumb was too sore to throw.
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