Tigers snap 9-game road losing streak on Peralta's 2 homers at Fenway
Written by Greg Piatt, Saturday July 31 2010
Cleveland Indians fans were happy Wednesday that the Detroit Tigers took Jhonny Peralta off their hands, even one blogger called the trade "Christmas in July."
But Tiger fans were happy Friday night, when Peralta got his revenge. The Tigers' newest infielder homer twice at Fenway Park in a 6-5 win over the Boston Red Sox.
The Tigers TV announcers made light of Cleveland fans' comments and said they will be saying on Saturday, "did you see what Peralta did last night?"
Peralta had just seven home runs this season for the Indians before being traded for pitching prospect Giovanni Soto. He became the first player to hit two home runs in his Tigers debut since Billy McMillon did it against the Twins on Aug. 5, 2000.
"Jhonny Peralta had a big night," Tiger manager Jim Leyland told the media after the game. "This guy is a good player."
Peralta, who hit his home runs in his first two at-bats for the Detroit against Boston Red Sox All-Star Jon Lester, helped Detroit end its nine-game road losing streak.
"We got a much need win, Leyland said on Fox Sports Detroit.
The Tigers (52-50) needed the win and would have dropped to .500 with a loss just three weeks after being 11 games over .500.
The win allows the Tigers to keep pace with the American League Central leader, Chicago White Sox, which beat the Oakland A's Friday 6-1.
Peralta's home runs were not the only excitement in the game.
Former Red Sox and Tiger outfielder/DH Johnny Damon was scratched at game time with back spasms. Delaying his debut in a Tiger uniform before the Fenway fans.
Tiger Starter Armando Galarraga, who allowed just one run, had to come out of the game with a bruised right ankle after 4 2/3 innings because Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis drilled him with a sinking line drive.
Tiger closer Jose Valverde, who has had a couple of difficult outings since facing Texas 10 days ago, gave up a David Ortiz grand slam with one out in the ninth and the score 6-1. Valverde, who threw 60 pitches, turned an easy win into a nail-biter.
While the game was a much needed win, the Tigers will need more than Peralta's power display in the coming weeks as Detroit faces a tough schedule of American League contenders in the coming weeks.
Five rookies were in the starting lineup Friday and the Tigers will need to add a pitcher and another bat like Toronto's Juan Bautista or Baltimore's Luke Scott by Saturday trade deadline.
Another bat will help the Tigers compete with the White Sox and Minnesota Twins, which have bolster their teams with pitching for the stretch drive.
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