Tigers Hold On For Sloppy Win, Keep Pace With Twins & White Sox

July 1st, 2009 | by jelletlambie |

Courtesy of Spartan3b4 - photobucket

Make it two straight wins for Armando Galarraga, who ran his record to 5-7 thanks in large part to an Oakland A’s team that repeatedly failed to capitalize on Tigers miscues.

While Armando allowed only two hits over 6.1 innings he issued six walks and saw his defense commit two early errors that threatened to erase the Tigers early lead. Galarraga got Kurt Suzuki to ground into an inning ending double play with the bases loaded in the first inning, he sandwiched two walks two around an Adam Everett error that set up the nifty escape.

A Ryan Raburn error and another walk in the second inning gave the A’s another chance to score, but ‘Mando was able to get Mark Ellis to ground out to end the frame. The A’s did strike in the fourth inning when Jack Cust singled to drive in Ryan Sweeney who tripled with two outs – these were the only two hits Galarraga allowed.

Coming into the ninth inning the A’s had two or more baserunners in an inning four times and managed a total of one run. Fernando Rodney worked the ninth inning in typical non-save fashion. After entering the game with 5-1 lead he proceeded to surrender a walk and two hits, inlcuding a Mark Ellis two run homer that trimmed the lead to 5-3. Orlando Cabrera, the tying run, mercifully grounded into a double play to end the game.

Placido Polanco homered in the top of the first, his fifth of the season, to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Ryan Raburn added an RBI single in the third, he was 3-3 on the day, raising his average to .263 in the process. Brandon Inge picked up his 52nd RBI of the year in the sixth inning with a single to drive in Raburn, Brandon eclipsed his 2008 RBI total in the process, another testament to the outstanding season he’s having. Placido Polanco picked up his third RBI in the ninth with a single that plated Adam Everett.

The Tigers had 12 total hits on the night, seven coming off starter Gio Gonzalez who lasted five innings, surrendering three runs and allowing nine baserunners. The Oakland bullpen allowed two runs on five hits in four innings of work.

A win is a win is a win is a win….but this one should be considered a bit on the lucky side. An upper echelon team would have feasted on the Tigers numerous mistakes, likely leaving the Tigers defeated in the process. But, I’d rather be talking about a win that almost wasn’t instead of the alternative.

The Minnesota Twins won a 2-1 nail biter over the Kansas City Royals to run their record to 40-39 and stay four games back of the Tigers in the AL Central. The Chicago White Sox crept into a tie for second place in the division after whipping on the Cleveland Indians to the tune of 11-4.

The Tigers will look to win the series this afternoon when Justin Verlander (8-3, 3.40 ERA) and his league leading 124 K’s face off with Dallas Braden (5-7, 3.26) at 3:35 Eastern Time.