Tigers On Top

What a delightful offensive outburst. Even without the help of the trusty seagulls, the Tygs pushed twelve across tonight with many amusing and wondrous highlights! I think we can all agree one of the best moments of the night was Jeremy Bonderman–7-0 since going his first five starts without a decision–getting his first major league hit. Well, it was actually more of a twenty-foot dying squib, but it’ll go down in the record books as a hit. Bondo was sucking wind the whole time, much to the amusement of his fellow starters, four of whom (Mikey, Durbin, Verlander and Little Nate) were standing all in a row at the top of the dugout with identical wicked grins. Immediately after the hit was official, Justin was calling for the ball. I would love to know what they wrote all over the dummy ball. (To digress for a moment, in case you didn’t know: When a player gets his first major league hit, they save the ball for him. His teammates also get a ”dummy” ball and write all sorts of crap on it to make the hitter feel bad and sometimes a bit angry, haha.) Mario and Rod gave him props for being a pretty alert and savvy baserunner. Watching him tag and come home from third on a sac fly was pretty priceless. I mean, I think everyone in the whole park knew there was no way he was going to slide, so he really had to book it.

And wouldn’t you know it, it was Bondo’s hit that started the five-run fifth inning. The Tigers had tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the second, as much through the Phillies enjoyable bungling as their own base hits. Everywhere you looked was an outfielder misplaying an out into a double, or the pitcher chucking the ball to a completely unmanned first base. And after Bondo’s hit, the boys really busted the game open. Pudge Rodriguez and Sean Casey both came through with two-out hits–Pudge’s was a three-run homer to make it 7-2, and Casey’s was a double that was just thiiiiis much away from being a homer. Mario Impemba actually predicted a Casey blast, and he and Rod spent the rest of the inning marveling at how close Mario was to being right!

It wasn’t Bondo’s best performance ever, but he had many impressive moments. Two especially spring to mind: How sweet was it to watch Bondo make Ryan Howard look foolish striking out, not just once but twice! And on a nice slider both times. Deeeelightful. So he gave up four homers. Big deal–they were all solos and we had a gigantic lead (except, obviously, for the first two. No sooner do the announcers start giving Rollins’ stats regarding leadoff homers than he hits one.)

Byrdak wasn’t great … I really want to nickname him Brilliant Byrdak but I guess that’s not going to happen anytime soon. I’ve never really had a lot of confidence in the bullpen even when it’s doing well, but this year takes my anxiety to new heights. I’m not complaining, cause we won and all, but when you’ve got a huge demoralizing lead on a strong team like the Phillies in the opening game of the series, you’ve got to KEEP demoralizing them! Letting them come back like that gives them hope, the last thing we want them to have.

Back to the offensive joy. Sean Casey, kick-starting his imaginary motorcycle each time he stepped into the box, motored his way to a four-hit night. If you didn’t know him, you might even think he wasn’t one of the slowest ballplayers in the league, with his doubles and scooting from first to third on the botched pickoff. Pudge was money tonight too, going three for five with five huge RBI.

Possibly not a concern to the rest of the world, but happy for me: I now have at least temporary bragging rights over two of my good buddies who are Phillies fans. I must say though that I’m kiiiind of afraid that this will go like the Brewers series where the Tigers look like a juggernaut in game one and then die in the next two games. We got a gift that Cleveland lost tonight–they seem to turn it on extra when we lose so they can open that gap even wider. But we can’t depend on them to lose, cause it seems like they hardly ever do. This is one division where there’s no chance in hell of backing into the championship. You’ve gotta want it, and hold onto it harder than anyone else.