Scott Sizemore & Ryan Strieby lead the Tigers to a 4-3 win over the Jays.

For the fifth time this spring the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays played baseball. The Blue Jays sent a split-squad team to Lakeland for their final meeting of the spring. Awakening the quiet Tiger bats was a seventh inning solo home-run by Scott Sizemore. A pinch hit RBI single by Ryan Strieby brought in the go ahead run in the eighth. The Tigers went on to close things out and win 4-3. They improve to 4-1 against the Blue Jays this spring and are now 11-6 in Grapefruit League action.

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ON THE BUMP:

Brad Penny pitched five innings surrendering two runs (one earned). He allowed five base-runners and struck out one. He was facing a split-squad Jays team without any regulars. Regardless, he kept the team in the game and that’s pretty much all you can ask for from the back-end of your rotation.

Jose Valverde was Jose Valverde. No runs and one walk with several on the mound antics that piss of the visiting team and fire up us Tigers fans.

Robbie Weinhardt ran into a little trouble today. Nothing to get concerned with but sinker-ball pitchers do rely on defense. He gave up a run on two hits but I am still pleased with what I have seen this spring. His ERA is still under four and he continues to keep the ball in the yard and on the ground.

Perhaps the best moment of the day was seeing Daniel Schlereth back on the bump. He appears to be healthy again so apparently my prayers to the baseball gods have been answered. With Phil Coke in the rotation Schlereth has become a very important piece. Glad to see him healthy. He pitched a quick and uneventful eighth inning striking out one.

Al Alburquerque might not be your favorite pitcher based on the difficulty to spell his name or the fact that he keeps you one step away from a heart attack. However, in person you really see what the Tigers were thinking when they signed him. While his ERA and WHIP won’t blow you away, he has struck out ten in 5 2/3 innings. He’s raw and he needs some work but he is interesting. Today he closed out the game allowing two hits, striking out three.

AT THE PLATE:

Scott Sizmore was 2-4 with a HR today. After an ice cold start this spring he is now hitting .259.

Ryan Strieby was called upon to pin hit in the eighth inning. He delivered and drove in the go-ahead and eventual game winning run. Batting just .259 this spring, Strieby needs to turn it up a bit if he intends on cracking the opening day roster.

Magglio Ordonez was 1-2 with a walk.

Jhonny Peralta was 2-3 and is hitting over .300 this spring.

For the first time this spring Andy Dirks did not register a hit. He did manage to get on base with a walk and score a run. Dirks is now hitting .438 in his campaign to claim a bench spot.

Detroit has its final split-squad games of the spring on Sunday. At Joker Marchant Stadium, Max Scherzer is scheduled to start and Charlie Furbush, Ryan Perry, Brad Thomas, Brendan Wise and Fu-Te Ni are all slated to pitch in relief. In Sarasota the Tigers will take on the Baltimore Orioles. Adam Wilk will start the game. Miguel Cabrera, Brandon Inge, Alex Avila, Austin Jackson and Ryan Raburn are the regulars scheduled to make the trip. Hat-tip to Jason Beck for the info.

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