Bonderman, Perry Key Tigers Win

Cleveland 2, Detroit 4 (box)

For the first time in nearly two years, Jeremy Bonderman started and won a big league game. Bonderman worked five strong innings to lead the Detroit Tigers to a victory in game two of their weekend series with Cleveland.

Bonderman, who has a history of first inning struggles, blasted out of the gate by retiring the first 11 batters he faced before Shin-Soo Choo battled him to a base on balls. After a Travis Hafner single moved Choo to third, Bonderman delivered wildly to home, allowing the Tribe’s first run, and the only blemish on Bonderman’s otherwise terrific return to the rotation.

“It was fun to just get back on the mound, compete and be who I am and not worry about my arm hurting,” Bonderman said after the game. “It’s been a long journey back, but I’m hoping I got 35 more starts in and hopefully we can do something special.”

The Tigers staked Bonderman to an early 2-0 lead on a first inning home run by Magglio Ordonez, who continues to tear the cover off the ball. Brandon Inge and Scott Sizemore added RBI’s in the third to cap the Tigers scoring.

Cheers for

• Jeremy Bonderman– Bondo had to throw 34 pitches in the fourth inning, which likely kept him from coming out for the sixth, but he was fantastic in his 91-pitch performance today. He allowed one hit, one run, and two walks while fanning five. You simply could not have asked for a better starting place to begin the new season.
• Magglio Ordonez– Maggs now has two homers this season. He hit nine last year. Don’t be shocked folks, Maggs is back and will be a part of the MVP discussion in the American League this season.
• Ryan Perry– Perry escaped a Tribe rally in the eighth and worked a perfect ninth for his first career save. He looked every bit the future closer the folks in Detroit think he is.

Jeers for

• Grady Sizemore– The Indians star wore an 0 for 3 with three strikeouts this afternoon, too bad he didn’t make a fourth appearance, that silver sombrero looks better in gold.
• Austin Jackson– Must have been a bad day to play centerfield, huh? Jackson took an 0 for 5 that included a pair of K’s. I knmow it’s just his fifth big league game, but there are no free passes in a MCB game recap.

What’s on tap?

The Tigers have clinched their second straight series win and will look for the sweep behind Justin Verlander tomorrow afternoon. Verlander (0-0, 7.20) lasted five innings in Monday’s season opener in Kansas City where he allowed four earned runs and had trouble backing off the throttle when he got in trouble. He’ll need to refine his approach in those situations going forward. Cleveland counters will Jake Westbrook (0-1, 11.25) who made his first start since 2008 in the season opener in Chicago. Westbrook, like Verlander had an outing he’d just as soon forget as he took the loss, allowing 5 earned in four innings.

Oh yeah, and my lovely wife and I will be at the CoPa to take in the game. We’ll be in section 221 so stop by and say hello if your at the ballpark.