Tigers Escape From New York with Win

Detroit 6, NY Mets 5 (box)

Armando Galarraga won for the first time since his pseudo-perfect game on June 2 as the Tigers held off a Mets rally to take the final game of the three-game series in New York last night.

Galarraga (3-1) didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning last night, but struggled as the evening progressed. He wound up working six, allowing four earned runs, and leaving the game with a two-run cushion.

Eddie Bonine, who relieved Galarraga to start the seventh, gave a run back to bring the Mets within a run, but Phil Coke danced out of danger by getting David Wright to strikeout with the bases juiced and one away in the seventh. Ike Davis then flied out to end the threat.

The Tigers built a lead a large as 6-1 by taking advantage of Hisanori Takahashi‘s inability to control the strikezone. The Tigers got a run in the first thanks to a Miguel Cabrera sacrifice fly, then added to the lead when Magglio Ordonez connected for his tenth home run of the year in the third. Ryan Raburn added ahome run to start a three-run rally in the fifth. Takahashi (6-3) faced four batters in that inning, failing to record an out. (…)

Cheers for

• Brennan Boesch– Boesch had a rough day defensively, but contributed three hits to the Tigers attack. He’s worked his average up to .348, which would be third in the league if he had enough at bats to qualify.
• Ryan Raburn– Playing second base last night, Raburn reached base four time, including three hits. His home run was his second on the season and after struggling a great deal early, Raburn has finally worked his average to above the Mendoza line, now resting at .208.
• Magglio Ordonez– Maggs collected two hits and drove home a pair of runs, both coming via his home run. Last season, in 131 games, Ordonez had nine dingers and 50 RBI. This year in 62 games, he has 10 homers and 49 driven in.

The Tigers head south next and they open a weekend series with the Braves tonight. Left hander Andy Oliver will be making his major league debut and is taking on a Braves squad that was just swept by the White Sox, who have won nine in a row and crept to within 2.5 games of first place. The Tigers must put together a strong effort this weekend to stay ahead of Chicago and to keep pace with the Twins, whose lead over Detroit is down once again to a half game.