The Opening Day festivities in Detroit were in full swing as the fans and the team prepared for another baseball season in Comerica Park. High hopes and expectations were in the very air that surrounded the stadium as the full house of fans erupted to the announcement of their favorite Tiger players.
Justin Verlander took the hill for Detroit in his first ever Opening Day start.
Gil Meche was the starter for the Kansas City Royals, looking to spoil the debut of the Tigers star studded lineup.
They did just that.
A 5-4 loss in eleven innings put the first game of the season in the loss column for Detroit. "I don't think we'll win most of time just because our payroll is big, "Claimed Tiger manager Jim Leyland."We just left some guys on base and we left a couple pitches up."
You cannot leave ten runners on base and win a baseball game, bottom line.
Miguel Cabrera smacked a homer and aided the Tigers to a 3-0 lead after five innings, but that wasn't enough to hold off the bats of the Royals. Alex Gordon crushed a two run homer off of Verlander to bring the Royals within one run 3-2. Both managers raved about Gordon's improvements.
Verlander was taken out of the game after giving up a leadoff walk and a single in the seventh inning. He was replaced by Tiger reliever Jason Grilli who immediately gave up an RBI single to Royals catcher John Buck tying the game at three. He then was replaced by right-hander Aquilino Lopez who gave up the go ahead run to Mark Grudzielanek with two outs.
Carlos Guillen connected for his first homer of the year tying the game at four.
Todd Jones pitched a perfect inning in the ninth giving way to Denny Bautista in the tenth.
Bautista took the loss for Detroit when he gave up a bloop single to Tony Peña Jr, scoring John Buck. The Tigers were unable to score in the eleventh, despite the efforts of rookie Clete Thomas who doubled off the wall to start the inning.
All in all, I thought it was a well played, exciting baseball game and the Tigers just came up short.
With 161 games left I wouldn't be too disappointed Tiger fans, this truly is a lineup to be reckoned with this year...Go Tigers!
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6 months ago
Nice article Tim,
I agree that we can't leave ten runners on base, and really shouldn't EVER given the preponderance of good bats in our lineup. I also agree that it's not time to panic given that this is just opening day, and the Royals, though oft-maligned, are a up and coming ball-club. However, I didn't like to see our bullpen give up the game like they did. It leaves that lingering doubt in my head. I would've liked to see the bullpen save the day after the bats came up short, if only to prove that they can. I know it's talked about a lot (and dismissed by Dombrowski) but I do think this bullpen is well below average, and could prove to be a major Achilles heel. Here's hoping I'm wrong...or that we can swing a trade.
from 6 months ago
It really was not the bullpen who lost this game .Our 13 time gold glove catcher made a crucial error to move the runner into scoring position to begin with.That's Baseball anyway you look at it .All in all I think the bullpen did well .Bottom of the eleventh who else would you rather have up with a man on third with 2 outs than Placido Polanco.He just came up short.We would be having a different conversation if he had laced a double off the wall to tie the game .I have a lot of faith in this organization let em play .Don't let Kansas city fool you either , they have been rebuilding for the last three years and have a solid young line-up as well as good pitching .We will have to earn these victories by doin the little things that win ball games . moving runners over by bunting etc ,setting the table for our star players to knock in .I am not that worried about our bullpen as of yet . It is too early.
6 months ago
Well Dan,we'll just have to let it play out and see what happens in the next few games.I beieve the starters most of the time will give us 5or 6 good innings giving way to the bullpen,which I agree is looking to be sub-par .However, I believe there is some good talent in there and it's stiil too early to tell.let's let em play. Dombrowski won't let em get far without fixing any problems.He and Mike Ilitch want a championship this year,and they have proven it by thier aquisitions.Have faith Tiger fans.
from 6 months ago
Oh I've got faith Tim. But I'm a Lions fan so I'm naturally jittery! LOL
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