The Tigers topped the Indians 6-2 in ten innings and I have to admit that this was a fun game to watch. It definitely had that pennant race feel to it and it was equally as nice that the Tiger pulled off a come from behind victory. Jeremy Bonderman’s first inning woes continued when he gave up a two run shot to Grady Sizemore, but even with the injured Travis Hafner in the lineup, that’s all the Indians would manage. Bonderman threw seven solid innings and he gave up the two first inning runs on four hits and two walks and he struck out eight. The eight strikeouts is the most he’s had in a start since July 7 when he struck out nine.
When Bonderman left the game, things were tied up. Ryan Raburn scored on a Magglio Ordonez ground out in the sixth after Raburn doubled to lead off the inning. Then Omar Infante singled home Marcus Thames in the seventh to tie it up. Tim Bydak got into trouble in the eighth when he walked two batters with one out but he got Victor Martinez to strike out and Travis Hafner to fly out to end the inning. Fernando Rodney then struck out the side in the ninth after allowing a lead off double to former Tiger Chris Gomez as the game went into extra frames.
The Tigers then tagged Indians closer Joe Borowski for four runs in the top of the tenth. Gary Sheffield singled home what was the game winner and then Magglio Ordonez capped off the inning with a big three run homer to give the Tigers plenty of insurance. Todd Jones put two runners on in the bottom of the tenth but he held on and put the Indians down to finish up the game.
Ordonez and Infante each had a team high three hits in the game while Ordonez led the way with four RBIs. Ryan Raburn, hitting in the two spot, went two for five and he scored twice. Brandon Inge had a particularly tough game with four strikeouts.
The Tigers take the lead in the division by a full game with the win. The finale of the two game series is tonight and it’ll be Jair Jurrjens making his major league debut with Fausto Carmona throwing for the Indians.Â