The Results of Opening Day
1 pitch. Strike. 2 pitches. Single for Ian Kinsler. 3 pitches. Justin Upton doubles. 5 pitches. Miguel Cabrera gets his first RBI of the year on a groundout and we have a 1-0 lead. We'd never be behind the whole game.
It was an adventure, but we won Opening Day!
Verlander was his crafty self. Who else takes a no-hitter through 5 innings on Opening Day? He deserved the win, but didn't get it.
I am making no judgements about the bullpen. It's been ONE game. Remember, last year, how good Shane Greene was at the beginning and then he tanked? Yes, that was due to injury, but my point is, you can't always have an accurate impression so early. Plus, I trust the radio announcers who say, "Don't worry." Wilson and Lowe did well in their innings. Lowe gave up a run yes, but he got the Marlins most dangerous hitter - Stanton - to end the 8th.
Oh boy, did our offense do great! Last season, they didn't score late and wouldn't have been able to win a game like this on a given night. This is the kind of play of a few years ago, when you never counted them out till the last strike was called. Good baserunning, good situational hitting, this game had it all.
And last but not least - Verlander got a HIT! That's the third hit of his career :) Bottom of the 2nd inning, two outs, he blooped a single, moved Gose to third, and extended the inning for Kinsler, who then proceeded to hit a 3-run home run! It was wonderful!
And apparently, JV is the first American League pitcher to get a hit on Opening Day since two guys did it in 1972! Go Verlander!
Final score: Tigers 8, Marlins 7 in 11 innings
It was an adventure, but we won Opening Day!
Verlander was his crafty self. Who else takes a no-hitter through 5 innings on Opening Day? He deserved the win, but didn't get it.
I am making no judgements about the bullpen. It's been ONE game. Remember, last year, how good Shane Greene was at the beginning and then he tanked? Yes, that was due to injury, but my point is, you can't always have an accurate impression so early. Plus, I trust the radio announcers who say, "Don't worry." Wilson and Lowe did well in their innings. Lowe gave up a run yes, but he got the Marlins most dangerous hitter - Stanton - to end the 8th.
Oh boy, did our offense do great! Last season, they didn't score late and wouldn't have been able to win a game like this on a given night. This is the kind of play of a few years ago, when you never counted them out till the last strike was called. Good baserunning, good situational hitting, this game had it all.
And last but not least - Verlander got a HIT! That's the third hit of his career :) Bottom of the 2nd inning, two outs, he blooped a single, moved Gose to third, and extended the inning for Kinsler, who then proceeded to hit a 3-run home run! It was wonderful!
And apparently, JV is the first American League pitcher to get a hit on Opening Day since two guys did it in 1972! Go Verlander!
Final score: Tigers 8, Marlins 7 in 11 innings
Wow -- Verlander got a hit? That's amazing! :)
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