Game 1: Bullpen stumbles
Royals 5, Tigers 4 (11 innings)
The Tigers (0-1) got ahead 3-0, but Justin Verlander began to weaken and the bullpen’s inability to stem the bleeding coupled with the batters’ lack of timely hitting gave Detroit a second straight opening day loss.
Quick recap:
- The Tiger got ahead 3-0 after an Edger Rentria RBI drove in Carlos Guillen in the second. In the third, the Tigers could only get one run off Gil Meche when they loaded the bases. Gary Sheffield walked — after falling behind 0-2 — to score Pudge Rodriguez.
- Miguel Cabrera homered to left in the fourth — the first of many — to put the Tigers 3-0.
- Verlander struck out six in 6+ innings, but he allowed a two-run homer to Alx Gordon in the sixth inning, then a pair of hits to open the sevent.
- Jason Grilli allowed the runner at third to score to tie the game. I don’t think you can blame him, it’s pretty unlikely for a team to get out of that jam.
- Aquilino Lopez gave up the go-ahead run, but Carlos Guillen answered with a solo homer to knot the game at 4-4.
- After Brandon Inge made a terrific throw home to get an out in the 11th inning, he had no chance on the next hit to him in the inning, and Joe Buck scored on a Tony Pena Jr. hit. T
- hat was Denny Bautista’s second inning of pitching. He took the loss.
- The Tigers managed to get rookie outfielder Clete Thomas to third after he opened the inning with a double — his first career hit — but they could not advance him.
- Alex Gordon’s diving stop at third base saved the run and gave Kansas the game.
- A couple new Tigers settled into the team’s theme right from their first real day in the uniform. Edgar Renteria struck out three times, Cabrera twice and Jacque Jones twice.
- But DH Gary Sheffield walked four times.
- Guillen went 3-5.
- Ordonez went 2-5.
- The Tigers left 10 baserunners straned.
Analysis
- Opening Day is always fun. But I’m glad we got that overwith. Pomp and circumstance is wonderful, but I’ll be glad when the season settles in.
- I hate to see the team lose on opening day, but it was actually a pretty entertaining game. I’m up and pacing around and into every pitch. Amazing how fast you go from not caring either way for the results on March 29 to pacing on March 31.
- I think you have to give props to Kansas City’s bullpen for allowing just one run and two hits in five innings. The Tigers are going to take advantage of bullpens this year — and probably the Royals’ bullpen several times. But today, those Royals pitchers did great.
- Great to see Clete Thomas contribute right away. Takes pressure off him and hopefully he can keep it up until Curtis Granderson returns.
- Brandon Inge has to learn not to dive on every hit. At third, sure, either you get it or you don’t and the left fielder does. But the left fielder is a long run from a ball that gets past you. But I think he’ll do fine out there and you have to love his arm.
- And Miggy! That’s exciting. We get 8 years of watching him and thinking something great is going to happen every pitch. How fun is that?
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