The Tigers got their first taste of the new Yankee Stadium last night in a game that saw a rain delay as well as a Yankee comeback. It seems like Joel Zumaya is the guy who comes up most often when I talk to people about the Tigers. He’s 3-3, but in three other games he’s blown saves and not taken and the loss. It just seems like whenever the Tigers blow a late lead, Zumaya is one of the victims and last night’s three run home run topped them all. Not, to top it all off, Joel Zumaya said he felt something pop in his shoulder and he’s now on the disabled list awaiting an MRI. Ryan Perry was brought back to replace him.
Lucas French had another nice start in this one. He gave up just two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five innings. Fu-Te Ni also continued his impressive campaign with a shutout sixth inning and his ERA now sits at an even 2.00 while his WHIP is an even 1.00.
Curtis Granderson had the big day with the stick. He went two for four with a solo home run, a double and two runs. The top four Tigers in the lineup (Granderson, Polanco, Cabrera and Thames) all had two hits a piec while the bottom five combined for just two singles.
The White Sox and Twins both won so the Tigers lead sits at 2 1/2 games (three in the loss column). The Tigers are actually kicking off game number two as I’m writing this and it’s a solid pitching matchup. CC Sabathia is throwing for the Tigers and Justin Verlander goes for his eleventh win. The Tigers already have men on first and second with just one out in the first so hopefully they’ll touch up Sabathia early.