Detroit Tigers 7-Chicago White Sox 6: That Was Wild

GAME SUMMARY:

• Final Score: Detroit 7 Chicago 6
• WP: Brandon Lyon (2-3): 2 innings, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 ER, 4 K
• LP: Scott Linebrink (2-4): 1 inning, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 0 K
• HR: Brian Anderson (2), Brandon Inge (13), Miguel Cabrera (11)

The Tigers took several leads only to have their wild pitching staff let the White Sox right back into the game. However, when the dust settled, the Tigers had taken two out of three from the White Sox with Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson scheduled to pitch the next two games. Things are set up quite nicely.

Dontrelle Willis struggled. Fernando Rodney was even worse. However, the Tigers offense picked up the pitching staff and the bottom of the order played particularly well. Placido Polanco even played like the vintage version of himself.

The Tigers will look to take game four of this five game mega-series tomorrow night behind the arm of Justin Verlander.

• Good: Brandon Inge just continues to play like an All-Star. Seriously. Inge went 1-2 with a home run and three (yes, three) walks. He scored three times and was a pest the entire evening. Great game for Brandon.
• Good: Is there anyone you’d want up for the Tigers right now with men on base than Adam Everett? Inge, while hot, strikes out a bit too much and Miguel Cabrera is working through an injury.
  
  If the Tigers are in a pinch with men on base and need a hit to score a run, I’d want Everett at the dish. He went only 1-5 tonight, but his one hit was 2-RBI double down the left field line that put the Tigers up 3-1 in the fifth inning.
• Bad: Dontrelle was bad. You can point to his only allowing three runs in five innings, but he was bad. I legitimately felt bad for him during this one. He’s clearly trying his best and it just doesn’t matter. Willis allowed 10 baserunners (five hits, five walks) over his five innings of work. It could have been much worse.
• Bad: Fernando Rodney was a total disaster. Although, tonight was really the first time he blew a save opportunity this season. Rodney came on in the ninth inning with a 6-3 lead and promptly walked the bases loaded.
  
  He threw 18 pitches and 12 of them were balls. He just didn’t have it tonight and he nearly lost the game. All three of those walks came around to score.
• Good/Bad: Miguel Cabrera homered in the top of 10th inning to give the Tigers the win. While his hit won the game, he doesn’t look right. I’m starting to feel like a trip to the DL is almost certainly in his future. He’s toughing it out, but he is not right. The Tigers need him to be healthy. Put him on the DL.
• Good: Brandon Lyon came on for Rodney in the 9th and allowed all three runners to score, mostly because of a double by Paul Konerko.
  
  However, he avoided further damage and struck out four batters in two innings of work. This guy has taken a ton of shit this season and he looked pretty good tonight.
• Good: Zach Miner pitched two perfect innings after coming on for Willis. This was exactly what the Tigers needed. He was dealing tonight and was pounding the strike zone as he struck out a pair. Zach may be making a case for a rotation spot.
• Good: Placido Polanco went 2-4 with 3 RBI. All of those RBI came on a bases clearing double in the seventh inning. He also made a terrific defensive play in the fifth inning that helped Willis a great deal.
• Good: The Tigers lead in the AL Central has ballooned to four games over the Twins.