Tonight was about as important game the Tigers will have on the road this month during an August pennant race: losers of the first 2 games to the Cleveland Indians, and their stopper pitching in the finale.
The game was probably a little too close for comfort in the eyes of Detroit Tigers fans, as they got out quickly vs Fausto Carmona, and staked Justin Verlander to an early 4 run lead. A solo HR later, and a 2-RBI double in the next inning, and we have a 4-3 Tigers lead.
A score that would stick throughout the course of the game. And to quickly summarize the type of season Cleveland has had, exciting, close, pulled it out in the end. They have a lot of walk-off wins this season, or wins earned late in games, which made many of us nervous about the potential outcome of a game to salvage the series.
Collective moans could be heard after the 7th inning, as it became known that after 7 innings, 3 ER, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts, and 108 pitches, his day was over. Enter setup man Joaquin Benoit, who won no fans for how he started his season. April and May were forgettable months for him, but Tigers fans won't be so quick: 6.10 ERA in April, 5.59 in May. Got it together in June and July, with a hiccup in this month that leads fans to be nervous when he takes the ball, especially in a close game.
Strikeout, strikeout, groundout. The haters are nowhere to be found.
Enter Jose Valverde, who has had a knack of making his save opportunities at times, very "exciting." At times, putting runners on via the walk, not exactly making life easy on himself. Add to that, the fact that he still hasn't blown a save opportunity this season (32 for 32), and more anxious Tigers fans await to see if this, in fact, was the night it might happen.
Strikeout, popout, groundout. Ballgame.
And with that, Justin Verlander wins his 100th career game, and Jose Valverde came in and converted what is now a club record 33rd consecutive save to start the season, breaking the old record held by Willie Hernandez in 1984. Yes, 2 big milestones were had tonight, but the win is bigger.
A loss may have sent panic through Tiger-town. Talk would have been about Verlander perhaps not being able to stop the bleeding that was 13 straight losses in Cleveland, or perhaps how the bullpen was unable to hold onto what Verlander had left them. They would move on to Baltimore with a slim 1-game lead in the standings, perhaps wondering what might have been, especially to allow the Indians back to within striking distance.
Instead, the top-dogs of the pitching corps did what they were supposed to do: Verlander struck out 10 more and only gave up 3 hits (big hits, but only 3). Benoit, brought in this season to set up Valverde, did just that. And rather impressively, I might add. Valverde did his thing, minus the crazy dance at the end, and got his save. Everything fell into place, and now it's time to move on to Baltimore with a 3-game lead in the division.
A sweep there would be nice. Winning and fundamental baseball would be ideal. Finishing road trips ahead would be paramount.
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