Maybe I was spoiled,  but the way Kenny Rogers had pitched both in the playoffs and to open the season, I thought he was unbeatable.  Last night he met his match though and after the Tigers gave him a one run lead on a solo homerun by Curtis Granderson, he proceeded to give up six runs with the bulk of the damage coming in the sixth inning when Kenji Johjima took him deep with the bases loaded.    Even worse, he had a tough time finding the plate and two of the guys who scored on the slam were there because of walks.  Rogers also didn’t strike out a single batter.

The Tigers put together a big rally in the eighth inning and Carlos Guillen’s two run single made it a 6-4 game but that’s as far as the Tigers would get.  The hitting star was definitely Curtis Granderson, who led off the game with a solo homerun and then led off the Tigers’ three run eighth inning with his sixteenth triple. 

The Indians also lost so the Tigers held on to their half game lead.  The Twins have won three straight though and they’re getting close enough to become a threat.  The Tigers will try to salvage a split in this afternoons’ game with Justin Verlander going up against a familiar face to Tigers’ fans in Jeff Weaver in a rematch of game five of the Workd Series.  Beating down Weaver won’t make up for that game five loss but it sure would feel good if the Tigers hitters could take it to him.

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