Kenny Rogers did it again.  The Tigers needed a win and he came up with another nice pitching performance to improve to 3-0.  He gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.  Jason Grilli and Macay McBride got into trouble when the Indians made it close in the seventh, but Zach Miner came and and held the Indians scoreless until the ninth inning when Todd Jones took over and picked up his 21st save.

Curtis Granderson’s not the only Tiger who can pick up a triple. Carlos Guillen and Ivan Rodriguez hit back to back three baggers in the seventh inning to give the Tigers and insurance run.  The Tigers are tied for MLB lead in triples with the Royals at 27.   Guillen finished with a team high three hits.

Sean Casey had another nice game and he went two for four with two runs.  He did touch .300 on Saturday but the two hits he had last night were his first in three games.  For all of the grief Casey has gotten for his stick, he’s now pulled his Eqa all the way up to .259 (about average) but what’s been very surprising is, he’s having his best fielding season of his career (6 fielding runs above average).  And those numbers were heading into last night’s game (unless they’ve been updated when you get a chance to view them).  In fact if Casey can keep up the glove work, it’ll be his first season ever with a positive fielding runs above average figure.

It looks like Marcus Thames is going to get more of a chance to find his stroke because it looks like the team is finally souring on Craig Monroe.  Thames has hardly been great, but being a part time player can have it’s effect so now we’ll get to see if Thames can find his stroke with more chances at the plate. 

This afternoon is the rubber game and it’ll be a good one.  Justin Verlander versus C.C. Sabathia.  I’ll probably Tivo the game because I’ll be standing in line at the Secretary of State.  I always put off renewing my tabs (yes, it’s my birthday today) and I have to take care of that today.  If the Tigers win today, it’ll be the third straight year the Tigers have won on my birthday.

Permalink | Posted in 2007 Tigers