Detroit Tigers Resemble Resilient Pistons
Written May 21st, 2006
The Detroit Tigers (28-14) took a play directly from the Detroit Pistons playbook of resilience last night by coming from behind to defeat the Cincinatti Reds (25-18) in ten innings.
During painful Motown seasons past, if Ken Griffey Jr., or any other opposing batsman for that regard, crushed a grand slam during the seventh inning to give his team the lead, the Tigers would have normally folded.
But not last night.
Last night the Tigers - playing before the fourth largest crowd in Comerica Park history - absorbed the shock and awe caused by watching rookie reliever Joel Joel Zumaya's 100 mph fastball sail into the right center field seats off Kenny G's sweet sounding instrument, before gallantly fighting back in the bottom of the ninth inning.
With two outs and a 2-1 count, Tiger Center Fielder Curtis Granderson took on the role of Piston All Star point guard Chauncey Billups by hitting a big shot down the left field line off Reds closer David Weathers to tie the game at 6, thus sending the heated contest into extra innings.
In the top of the 10th inning, Fernando Rodney, who is slowly becoming the Tigers version of Ben Wallace, came in for Jaime Walker and slammed the door on the Reds.
During the bottom of the dramatic tenth inning, Weathers, throwing before 43,138 hooting and hollaring baseball fans, beaned Tiger Shortstop Carlos Guillen on the left foot, then allowed Guillen to steal second base shortly before walking First Baseman Chris Shelton. With runners on first and second, Dimitri Young hit a bullet of a ground ball to second basemen Brandon Phillips who made a sparkling, momentarily game saving play by knocking the ball down and forcing Shelton out at second. But unfortunately for Cincinatti, Phillips play sacrifice would be in vein, for shortly afterwards, Craig Monroe hit a seemingly normal ground ball to shortstop Felipe Lopez. However after routinely scooping up the baseball, strangely hesitated before throwing both the ball past first baseman Rich Aurilia to give the Tigers the victory.
The Tigers victory over Cincinatti was certainly a great victory for the long impoverished Tigers baseball team.
It was also a great victory for the City of Detroit. People living in and abroad Motown have not seemed to be this excited about baseball in years. Not since the early 90s when the triple entante of Cecil Fielder, Mickey Tettleton and Rob Deer sent Tiger fans home happy half the time by hitting monstrous game winning home runs, have Tiger fans had something to consistently cheer about.
But while the Tiger teams of the early 90s were fun to watch, this seasons Tiger team possesses solid pitching to back up its potent bats.
This alone is something for Tiger fans to celebrate.
The Detroit Tigers (28-14) took a play directly from the Detroit Pistons playbook of resilience last night by coming from behind to defeat the Cincinatti Reds (25-18) in ten innings.
During painful Motown seasons past, if Ken Griffey Jr., or any other opposing batsman for that regard, crushed a grand slam during the seventh inning to give his team the lead, the Tigers would have normally folded.
But not last night.
Last night the Tigers - playing before the fourth largest crowd in Comerica Park history - absorbed the shock and awe caused by watching rookie reliever Joel Joel Zumaya's 100 mph fastball sail into the right center field seats off Kenny G's sweet sounding instrument, before gallantly fighting back in the bottom of the ninth inning.
With two outs and a 2-1 count, Tiger Center Fielder Curtis Granderson took on the role of Piston All Star point guard Chauncey Billups by hitting a big shot down the left field line off Reds closer David Weathers to tie the game at 6, thus sending the heated contest into extra innings.
In the top of the 10th inning, Fernando Rodney, who is slowly becoming the Tigers version of Ben Wallace, came in for Jaime Walker and slammed the door on the Reds.
During the bottom of the dramatic tenth inning, Weathers, throwing before 43,138 hooting and hollaring baseball fans, beaned Tiger Shortstop Carlos Guillen on the left foot, then allowed Guillen to steal second base shortly before walking First Baseman Chris Shelton. With runners on first and second, Dimitri Young hit a bullet of a ground ball to second basemen Brandon Phillips who made a sparkling, momentarily game saving play by knocking the ball down and forcing Shelton out at second. But unfortunately for Cincinatti, Phillips play sacrifice would be in vein, for shortly afterwards, Craig Monroe hit a seemingly normal ground ball to shortstop Felipe Lopez. However after routinely scooping up the baseball, strangely hesitated before throwing both the ball past first baseman Rich Aurilia to give the Tigers the victory.
The Tigers victory over Cincinatti was certainly a great victory for the long impoverished Tigers baseball team.
It was also a great victory for the City of Detroit. People living in and abroad Motown have not seemed to be this excited about baseball in years. Not since the early 90s when the triple entante of Cecil Fielder, Mickey Tettleton and Rob Deer sent Tiger fans home happy half the time by hitting monstrous game winning home runs, have Tiger fans had something to consistently cheer about.
But while the Tiger teams of the early 90s were fun to watch, this seasons Tiger team possesses solid pitching to back up its potent bats.
This alone is something for Tiger fans to celebrate.
posted by James_Morisette @ 8:00 AM
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