That was the incredible line the Tigers accomplished in the sixth inning yesterday, as they crushed the Indians 17-3. It’s their 10th win of the year, and it’s still only April.

In all, the Tigers walked 10 times. Brandon Inge came within a double of hitting for the cycle, while extending his hitting streak to nine games. He also boosted his batting average to a mind boggling .417, and an OBP of .500. Pudge, Eric Munson, and Inge (who’s homerun was a grand slam) all had at least three RBIs and five Tigers scored at least twice (Munson scored four runs).

But it was that sixth inning, that looked more like a slo-pitch softball game on a windy day where the pitcher can’t quite control his stuff and get it over the plate, that turned this thing from a one run game to a blow out.

I should also mention, as watching the game, I was going to talk about how the little things help you win. In the fourth, with the Tigers down 3-2, Craig Monroe made a nice hustle play, tagging and advancing to second on a deep fly ball to center by Carlos Pena. He’d go on to score the tying run, but by the end of the game, this play would be lost in the excitement of the big inning.

Lost in the hitting barage, Jeremy Bonderman didn’t have his best stuff, walking a season high five batters in only five innings. But he hung in there, and lasted through five innings to pick up the win. Estaban Yan was just about perfect in the final four innings, picking up the save, and only giving up one hit and one walk the rest of the way.

May 22 was when the Tigers won their first game last year, so we’re almost a month ahead of schedule.

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