21st
May
2008
Game 46: Tigers win two in a row!!
posted in 2008 season, Seattle Mariners |Tigers 9
Mariners 4
Long day, short post game. I’ll have a reaction to Dontrelle Willis heading to the bullpen Thursday night.
Recap:
- The offense came to play for the second game and the Tigers won two in a row for the first time, er, this month.
- Marcus Thames got a rare start and made the best of it. He hit a double and a grand slam.
- The Tigers took advantage of a 7 run third inning on Jarrod Washburn to put the game away.
- Unfortunately Kenny Rogers couldn’t quick up the quality start and allowed all four runs and got knocked out of the game after getting just one out in the sixth inning.
Analysis:
- It would be nice if the pitching enjoyed some of the renaissance the offense is doing.
- Is this 21 runs in two days because Seattle’s pitching is so bad Detroit can’t help but score? Or is the luck turning some, allowing the Tigers to knock some runs in from scoring position? Or are they just coming out of a near two month slump?
- Too early to tell.
- I wish the Tigers were in the A.L. West. Or at least played more often against the Rangers and Mariners.
Wow, two explosions in a row. That hasn’t happened since the Rangers (and the Rangers are actually a pretty decent team now, giving some teams a lot of trouble).
I think that the Tiger’s success has to do with their focus with guys on base. They had that hit-and-run with Mags/Cabby the other night. And tonight they had another hit-and-run with Polly/Shef. Very smart baseball. Seattle’s pitching has been pretty horrid, but I don’t think that is the only factor. They just need to learn to keep pressing in even after they get a big league. Keep getting quality at-bats and don’t just pitch down the middle trying to get the game over with. We do those two things and we will be alright.
Are we turning the corner? We’ll see when Minnesota comes to town. We’ll see.
Sure, the Mariners pitching isn’t the best, but the Tigers have been getting beat all season by guys like Washburn and Silva. They should beat up on them but just haven’t really done it until now. Good sign.