Zumaya gets his groove back
posted in 2007 season, Baltimore Orioles |Tigers Win 5-4
AP Photo
Anytime Joel Zumaya is happy, I’m happy. Because if Joel Zumaya isn’t happy, there’s a pretty good chance the Tigers aren’t going to be either. Four strikeouts, two scoreless innings and his first win of the season, Joel Zumaya had a good reason to be happy Tuesday.
Chad Durbin? Maybe he’s not so happy. Six walks. Less than four complete innings pitched. He followed up his excellent outing against the White Sox with a sub-par showing against the Orioles. 46 strikes, 49 balls. Bright side, he did only give up two runs. But he couldn’t throw enough strikes.
As Freep writer John Lowe likes to point out in his blog how good the relief is between the starter and the finishers, I’ll hop that bandwagon and say Bobby Seay showed why the Tigers don’t miss Jamie Walker as much as everyone likes to pretend. Bridging Durbin-to-Zumaya after the starter came out early, Seay allowed just a hit and walk. Zumaya did let one of his baserunners get in, but no big deal. The Tigers needed Seay’s performance.
Despite a sub-par lineup to start the game, the Tigers got the job in crunch time when the true hitters came to the plate. It’s not really anything you can point at Leyland negatively for. Carlos Guillen felt sore and needed rest, so Neifi Perez started. Curtis Granderson just got a day off. (Guillen may not play until Friday). Both Guillen and Grandy (intentional) walked and scored in the eighth.
Who helped the most? Who do you think? Polly Polanco with a 4-for-5 day, two RBIs and a run. Craig Monroe also had a pretty long two-run homer to left field.
So, all in all, not bad. Tigers win with Durbin on the mound and Neifi in the lineup. Zumaya gets his mojo back.
In other news, this Golden State-Dallas game is great, hard to write with this on!
Around the Central
Cleveland and Minnesota both cruised to victories, Chicago lost.
Cleveland 12, Toronto 4 – Indians got a homer from Travis Haffner, three runs and two RBIs against the Jays. The Twins scored all day against the Tampa starter.
Minnesota 9, Tampa Bay 1 – Sidney Ponson picked up the while Joe Mauer had three hits.
Seattle 5, White Sox 2 – Javy Vasquez allowed four runs. The Chicago offense mustered four hits.
Sphere It
The Tigers look like they are going to do well this year.
Even with The Gambler in the rotation they look to be holding things together. And where my beloved Orioles keep finding new and unique ways to lose, the Tigers seem to be finding creative ways to win.
They aren’t blowing anyone out because they aren’t the most talented team in baseball. But they are one of the smarter, more fundamentally sound teams the O’s have see so far and that goes a LONG way.
I’m expecting Detroit to make another post season appearance this year.
Just give a break tonight and let us have ONE win in this already painful series.
Thanks for dropping by. It’s always good to see what an opposing fan thinks. Even when you’re not trying to be biased, it’s your team, some bias still is gonna slip in.
And, oh yah, after today I wish you much success against the A.L. Central. Go win em all!