Tigers 8-2, yet not gaining ground
posted in 2007 season, Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees |Detroit 4, Twins 2
A few interesting points about a fine victory at the HHH Dome.
- Pudge walked.
- Pudge walked.
- Pudge walked.
OK. He only walked once. But you can forgive me for mentioning it three times, because it’s not like a) it happens often, or b) you could have expected him to do it.
At work, I glanced at the TV, saw three yellow squares on the bases, and then saw Pudge. And worse, two outs. Well, one does not expect that to turn out well very often. So I went back to what I was doing and before you know it, Pudge is standing on first base. He didn’t get a hit. He took a walk. A WALK. PUDGE! He has, let me count, 1…2…3… … 9 walks this year. Didn’t even take me two hands. But this walk tied a (presumably) important game 2-2. Timo Perez added a pair more with a single, and suddenly it’s 4-2 Tigers. The bullpen held on.
Unfortunately for Detroit, the putrid Red Sox’ bullpen did not. Our choking friends from the east gave up six runs in the eighth and eventually the victory. So the Tigers — 8-2 in the last 10 games — did not gain a single game on the Yanks during that time period when the Red Sox blew a five-run lead.
Thanks, Boston. You’ll still make the playoffs as a wild card even if you choke. But everyone will remember the hack job you did as the Evil Empire ran up on you from what, 14-1/2 game back? So, you’d better take the next two games from them and put them away, OK? Glad we agree.
The Indians, too, came from behind to win.
Detroit clinched a .500 season.
Sphere It
Funny thing about that walk was that he had to scramble out of the way of the payoff pitch. If it ahdn’t almost hit him i don’t know if he would have laid off. I don’t know if it’s my imagination but he seems to have become a tad more patient at the plate since the recent FREEP article .