Rapid Reactions: Tigers Make it Back-to-Back Wins in Oakland

Tigers 8, Athletics 4, 10 innings (box)

It ended up 8-4, but it was actually 1-1 after nine innings. Kind of a weird game.

• It was a much better result for Rick Porcello tonight. 6 innings, 4 K, 1 BB, 1 ER. He worked in and out of some trouble early, but usually found a way to get a ground ball or strikeout to wiggle out of the jam. It was really nice to see the offense finally strike, because he didn’t deserve to pick up a loss for his performance.
• I really liked that Leyland had Ramon Santiago playing shortstop behind Porcello. He made two or three really nice defensive plays, including a slick pick on a hard grounder that got turned into a double play to get Rick out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning. I wouldn’t mind seeing Ramon at short every time that Porcello takes the mound.
• Nice major league debut for Al Alburquerque. He pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. The first strikeout came against his first hitter on just three pitches. Stuff looked good.
• The Tigers first run came in the top of the ninth when Miguel Cabrera took closer Brian Fuentes to deep to right center. Cabby had started the series 0-6 before he hit the game tying blast. You just kinda knew he was going to deliver in that spot.
• Will Rhymes was 1-4 tonight. His slash line is now just .220/.289/.220. I have to think he’s looking over his shoulder at what Scott Sizemore is doing in Toledo. Through seven games in AAA, Sizemore is hitting .435/.519/.652. If he keeps his line anywhere close to that, he’ll be in Detroit very soon.
• That’s 1,500 career wins for Jim Leyland.

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