Two straight walkoffs
posted in 2007 season, Chicago White Sox |Tigers 3, White Sox 2
There are those who believed the Tigers had no heart. The final game of the three-game White Sox series was an interesting test of that theory. And yet somehow, improbably as it would seem given recent evidence, the Tigers completed a second straight walkoff victory. What makes this even more improbable is that they trailed, 2-1, entering the ninth inning after giving up a pair of two-out runs in the eighth. But a ninth-inning rally off Bobby Jenks — who sent 40-something batters back to the dugout unsuccessfully earlier this season, tying a major league record — means the Tigers have heart, and they’re still in the race for the playoffs.
Fernando Rodney gave up a two-out, two-strike double with bases loaded for Chicago’s only runs. Brandon Inge homered earlier for the Tigers. In the ninth, Timo Perez singled, then moved to second on an error. Sean Casey knotted the game up after a sacrifice. Then, with two outs, Placido Polanco hit the game winner.
It’s easy to read too much into these things. Especially after two walkoff victories in two days has you all positive. If Detroit lost, they trailed the Mariners by 1/2 game and the Yankees by 3 1/2, as neither team played. So it wasn’t that big a difference in the standings. And who is to say whether the series proved Detroit has changed directions? And who is to say whether they can build on winning it? Certainly, we thought taking 3 of 4 from the Yankees meant good things, only to be slapped by reality.
But maybe the most important thing to remember is, it’s Sept. 7th and the Tigers are not dead yet. They’ve treaded water, more or less. Each potential meltdown was headed off. The Yankees may be good, but they’re not invincible. They haven’t pulled away. And the Tigers control their own destiny in grabbing sole position of second place in the wild card race, as the Mariners are coming to town for the weekend.
Can they get hot? Well, Kenny Rogers looked good a game ago. Chad Durbin gave a solid start. The bullpen is, more or less, fine. Gary Sheffield may not be fully healthy, and he may have been hitless, but he is still Gary Sheffield. He will draw walks and see good pitches with Magglio Ordonez behind him. The only inning I saw of the game, he launched a foul ball way gone in left field. So I’m pretty sure he can still straighten those out. In any case, I would say I’m cautiously… something. I wouldn’t say optimistic about the Tigers chances. They are still 3 games behind the Yankees. But my diagnosis of the patient has been upgrade a notch.
And now we have a Really Big Weekend. That’s all I can say. Biggest so far, anyway. Let’s see how we feel Sunday.
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