14th
June
2008
Game 67: Tigers win! Tigers win! Tigers win! Tigers win!
posted in 2008 season, L.A. Dodgers |Tigers 5
Dodgers 0
Recap:
- The winning streak is now four.
- But the three Central Division teams above Detroit in the standings also won, so the Tigers made up no ground.
- Armando Galarraga and Freddy Dolsi combined for a 3-hit shutout.
- Galarraga struck out five in seven inning and walked one.
- Dolsi didn’t allow a baserunner in the final two innings to earn his second major league save.
- Marcus Thames homered, his ninth.
- Michael Hollimon got an RBI, his career first, on a sac fly to left. (Also his first career start, subbing for Edgar Renteria at 2nd base).
- Carlos Guillen didn’t enjoy getting hit by a pitch. His teammates had his back. (See Spotstarters, Jason Beck for more)
- And Magglio Ordonez made the Dodgers pay by hitting a two-run homer to drive Guillen in.
- The Tigers improved to 30-37.
Analysis:
- We know Detroit likes to play (and beat up on) National League teams. Unfortunately so does the rest of the division. But I guess you can’t worry about them when your own team is 7 games under .500.
- I enjoy a good baseball tussle as much as the next guy, but I don’t really see the need from the Tigers’ point of view. Everything is going well. The team is winning, FINALLY. No need to get anyone suspended or hurt.
- Galarraga is really pushing to keep his bid for most valuable Tiger alive. Challenged by Verlander’s complete game, Galarraga put together maybe his best game in Detroit — and he’s been pretty good.
- And Freddy Dolsi obviously doesn’t want to be the one sent back to Toledo when Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney come off the disabled list. I don’t think he should be either. Keep this kid in Detroit. He’s still learning. He’s a rookie. But he’ OK by me most nights, which is more than I can say for a few other relievers.
- Baseball’s fun when you’re winning, isn’t it?
Injury update:
- Rodney may come off the disabled list as soon as Sunday night after a solid two-inning performance in Toledo, Friday. My guess is Casey Fossum, the third left-hander in a three lefty bullpen tandem, gets sent down.
After the game, Derek Lowe (Dearborn Edsel Ford HS) said this:
“No one believes you should move out of Michigan,” he said of his family and friends. “Two years ago, I came to the World Series as a fan [of the Tigers]. Think about it, I bought tickets, everything. You still root for the team you grew up with. It’s not all of a sudden you hate Detroit because you play them. I root against them for three days.”
His contract is up after this season. He made $9 million a year as a Dodger. They haven’t approached him about an extension yet. A possible solution for next year?
Holy bananas we need an update:
(1) Crazy back-to-back sweeps???
(2) Intensely good starting pitching??
(3) Earth shattering Battlestar Galactica mid-season finale??
(4) A zestfully healing Zoomer???? A returning Rodney????
(5) The movie “Jumper” stinking even on DVD??
(6) The Bullpen almost, but not quite, blowing a five fun lead???
We needs the Kurt to comment…
Good starting pitching today anyway. I’ll do a quick update just for you but try to blog more later tomorrow, I promise!