Saturday's Results Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York Tigers 6, Yankees 10
Once again, we can’t expect them to win every game. Yet two games into the season we are still waiting to see our first Detroit Tigers victory of 2011.
Pack your patience.
Yesterday’s loss to the New York Yankees, 10-6, was a painful game for fans and players alike. The Yankees jumped all over starter Brad Penny, in his Tiger’s debut, early in the game. Penny fell three runs behind in the first inning en route to an early exit. By the time his day was over he had given up eight runs, including a three run homer to Mark Teixeira (his second in as many games) in the 2nd inning.
Penny’s ERA has swelled to 16.62.
Also, Curtis Granderson continued to play a good game against the Tigers. He successfully stole second base in the third. He had such a good jump, Alex Avila, despite a spot-on throw, wasn’t able to get him.
Unfortunately frustrations mounted as the bullpen continued to give up more hits and runs. Brad Thomas, relieving Penny in the fourth, launched a pitch that Russell Martin took deep to add three runs to the games totals. Then in the bottom of the sixth, Alex Rodriguez homered off of Brayan Villarreal.
If there is any good to come from the game, and there is some, the Tigers tried to battle back – although slowly. They ran out of innings.
Austin Jackson put the Tigers on the board with a home run in the third inning. Brennan Boesch, Avila, and Jhonny Peralta singled to kick off the fifth. Victor Martinez contributed with his first home run as a Detroit Tiger. In the ninth Alex Avila scored on an error. They racked up 10 hits and took advantage of some opportunities. By then it was too late.
Magglio Ordonez left the game early with a sore ankle – yes, THAT one. It is doubtful that he will play today’s game, according to Jim Leyland, who said that he didn’t want to take any chances.
So that is the long and short of it.
The Tigers will try to salvage the third game this afternoon. They will send Max Scherzer to the mound. The Yankees will counter with Phil Hughes.
-Skip
EXTRAS
Fun Fact: When Justin Verlander pitched in Thursday’s opener against the Yankees, he became the fourth Tigers pitcher since 1920 to start four consecutive opening day games. He has good company, too, Jack Morris, Mickey Lolich, and Hal Newhouser are the other three.
(From ESPN Stats and Info)
