Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals (May 25, 2009)
Written by TigersFan22, Monday May 25 2009
Leyland said the hitters had to hit....well he got his wish today.
Today's match up featured the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers (25-18) vs the Kansas City Royals (22-23). Justin Verlander (5-2, 3.55) was on the mound today and showed why he truly is the ace of the staff.
Kansas City had Gil Meche (2-5, 4.55) who in his last 6 outings against Detroit has posted a 3-0 record and a 2.63 era against the Tigers.
But today Meche ran into a totally different Detroit ballclub.
Detroit recently came off of a 9 game homestand where they won 7 out of their last 9 but Leyland was critical of the offense. Detroit's offense ranks 8th in runs in the American League and 9th in batting average.
Today the bats came to play with another stellar outing from Verlander.
In the first, Granderson(3-5, RBI) was walked to start off the game. Then Polanco(1-6, RBI) made it safely to base on an error by Teahen. Granderson would move to third on the error as Magglio(1-4, RBI) would come up hitting a ground ball that would drive in the first run.
Miguel Cabrera(4-6, 3 RBIs) would follow in Mags lead driving in Polanco with a one out single to make the score 2-0 early on in the first inning. Meche would offer 2 walks this inning looking erractic threw out his whole outing.
Verlander was in control early sitting down the first three batters and cruising as he has done in his last 5 starts. All of his pitches looked good today as early on the Royal hitters did not have an answer for him at the plate.
In the 3rd Ordonez would start off the inning with a single as Miguel would one up him with a double of his own. With one out Brandon Inge(3-6, 2 RBI) would hit a 2 run single to add two more to the Tigers lead.
K.C's skipper Trey Hillman had decided he had seen enough of Meche after he loaded the bases with only one out. His numbers read for the day as follows: 2 1/3 innings, 2 earned runs, 4 runs, 6 hits, 3 walks and 1 strikeout. He was replaced by Sidney Ponson would induced a double play to escape the inning.
But the damage didn't stop their.
In 3 innings Verlander had 4 strikeouts and had not allowed 1 hit. Not until the 4th did a Royal finally get on base as Coco Crisp(1-3) hit a lead off single to get aboard. Before this hit Verlander had sat down 9 straight Royals.
Verlander would induce a double play before allowing 2 more Kansas City singles by Billy Butler(1-4) and Jose Guillen (1-3). Then a strikeout of Mike Jacobs(0-4) would end the inning and any real threat that the Royals may have put up against Verlander.
The start of the 5th began with 4 straight singles from Miguel, Larish, Inge, and Thomas, who scored 2 runs on his single extending the lead to 6-0. Laird would pop out and then Santiago(2-4,1 RBI) would follow him with a sacrifice fly to bring Inge in to score.
The bottom of the 5th for Kansas City was the same as the rest of the game as Alberto Callaspo(1-2) one out single gave Kansas City one last glimmer of hope. This was shut down by Verlander and continued into the bottom of the 6th as Crisp would groundout to start the inning.
David Dejesus(2-4,1 RBI) would manage to get a single but the next 2 batters(Butler, Guillen) would popout ending the inning.
Another pitching change would occur as Ponson was taken out in the 7th and replaced by journeyman Ron Mahay. The lefty Mahay would start out the inning by striking out Jeff Larish to start the 7th. Brandon Inge would get aboard with a one out single and Gerald Laird would bring him home with a two out home run.
Laird's last home run was April 25th and concidentially it was in Kauffman Stadium. The inning would not be over though as Santiago would have a two out single and Granderson would get a double. The Tigers at this time had collected 14 hits in the ball game.
Polanco would ground out to in the 7th but the damage had been done. Verlander would go back on the mound in the bottom of the 7th and have another 1,2,3 inning striking out Tug Hulett to end his day on the mound. He threw 96 pitches in 7 innings pitched, 5 hits, and 8 strikeouts never allowing one extra base hit.
In the top of the 8th Kansas City brought in a familiar face with Roman Colon. This former Tiger would walk Mag's and strikeout Miguel. He would go on to strike out Larish and Inge pumping his fist happily while down 9-0.
Zach Miner would come in the bottom of the 8th and strikeout Willie Bloomquist who had some words with umpire Paul Emmel about the call. Trey Hillman would come out of the dugout and give his two cents before being tossed from the game.
After the Royals manager was tossed, Mitch Maier would give the Royal's something to cheer about with their first extra base hit of the ball game. He would get a triple and score on a 2 out RBI single from David Dejesus.
The Royals would bring in Jamey Wright for the 9th inning as he would strikeout Clete Thomas and walk Laird. Santiago would single and be followed up by Granderson would would also single to tack on one more run. Polanco would get his first hit of the game as well sinling in ramon santiago to make the score 11-1.
The Tigers were not done yet as Anderson would load the bases on a infield single. Cabrera would come up doubling to score 2 more as the Tigers would end the 9th with 4 more runs and 9 men coming up to bat.
Ryan Perry would be called in the 9th inning to finish up the job as he would walk one, and strikeout one.
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