The Tigers lost a slugfest to the Angels yesterday afternoon, 12-7. I'm not going to raise an alarm over 2 straight losses but losing 3 of 4 doesn't look good. Luckily Detroit hasn't lost much ground since Cleveland has had its own problems. Those include getting no-hit by these very same Angels, compliments of Ervin Santana, on Wednesday. It was the Angels first complete game no-hitter since Mike Witt pitched a perfect game in the waning days of the 1984 season. I have that clipping in my much-beloved scrapbook of the 1984 season, which followed what turned out to be Detroit's last World Championship. The only time I ever scrapbooked a season. It was odd. I just "had a feeling" during Spring Training.
Yesterday it was Mark Trumbo giving Detroit fits. He had a home run and 5 RBIs, and is certainly making himself look like the front runner to be the AL Rookie of the Year. 19 homers and 53 RBIs. His crushing of a double led to a very loud argument between Brad Penny and Victor Martinez, who caught yesterday.
Penny's problems amounted to 7 runs on 9 hits in 3.1 innings pitched. He fell to 7-8 on the season. Another reason why Detroit needs another starting pitcher within the next 2+ days. I'm certainly not saying Penny should get bumped from the rotation. But he has a 4.89 ERA. Detroit has to score some runs in his starts, as he's not a lockdown pitcher. That's not a total disaster but combining that with the 1-11 5 starter spot and that's 2 anchors that Detroit has dragging behind it a bit. The offense isn't a juggernaut and expecting it to have to put up 5 or 6 runs for 2 turns out of the 5-man rotation in order to get a win is asking a bit much if the team wants to win the division.
For Detroit Miguel Cabrera was 2-5 with his 22nd home run of the season and a double. Andy Dirks and Brennan Boesch were each 2-4 with 2 RBIs. Jhonny Peralta had an RBI, and Wilson Bitemit hit a solo home run, his first homer as a Tiger and his 4th overall on the season.
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