Durbin, Tigers keep winning
posted in 2007 season, Minnesota Twins |Tigers 8, Twins 2
I hope you didn’t come here looking for an explanation of how Chad Durbin won for the third time in four games. I mean, yeah, I watched it. And yah, it’s hard not to win when your team scores eight runs. But it wasn’t only that: Durbin threw five shutout innings. That’s just strange.
Or is it?
Actually, I have an idea or two. I think he was keeping the ball low, though sometimes it’s hard to figure out on TV. Durbin had control issues early, but his defense took care of him with DPs in each of the first three innings. The Twins loaded the bases in the second inning before the DP got Durbin out unscathed. That was probably Durbin’s doing, he forced 11 ground balls to 6 fly balls for outs. Obviously a good infield defense is required for a guy like that, and the Tigers are good enough. And after the first three walks — all in the first two innings — he settled down.
Could be his batters kept scoring on Sidney Ponson. First it was two. Then it was three. Then it was six. Then it was ugly. I was actually a bit in shock as the runs kept rolling up until it was an embarrassment of riches at 8-0.
Craig Monroe came up big, 3-for-4, another long HR. Maggs and Gary Sheffield had multi-hit games. Even backup catcher Mike Rabelo got into it, driving home another RBI.
“It’s not that big of a deal,†Jim Leyland said afterward, “but if somebody watched us today, they’d say, ‘Jeez, the Tigers have a pretty good team.’†(Freep)
So the Tigers just keep winning. It’s 11 of 12 now.
The series concludes at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Virgil Vasquez makes his MLB debut.
Side note: This “Mugshot Purgatory” post at Stick and Ball Guy showing Tigers aging over the years is hilarious and a great idea. Definitely check it out
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