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| Raburn has forced himself into starting lineup. |
When we left off, my Tigers just got done (finally) winning their first series after the All-Star Break, 3-2 over the White Sox (one of the games was a rescheduled rain-out). Not to sound like a broken record, for those that might not know, I was 53-33 at the break, and my Tigers were 5 games up on Cleveland (due to my +2 differential in my replay compared to real-life against Cleveland). By the time that we were done with the White Sox, we have been up-and-down & stood at 60-41.
Then the real horrors began
Games #102 - #104 (at Los Angeles Angels)
My Tigers would make 6 errors as documented in my article "Tigers Rolling Over", three errors in a six-run inning, in which we would lose 10-2. The Angels swept us, 3-0, and outscored us 20-7, in which we had a total of 10 errors that series. When I explained this series to my wife, she knew enough to know that we played flat-out horrible. The big kick in the gut, was when Dustin Moseley (Grade D) pitched a three-hit, complete game against us, allowing only one run -- for the series finale.
Game #105 (at Oakland Athletics)
We did not show up this game, my team managed only 4 hits, while Oakland managed only 5 hits, but they made it count; Tigers got walked 5 times, but just couldn't get them in, as we lost 4-1. Chad Durbin is starting to pitch like Chad Durbin -- he won 9 games in the first half, while his ERA has been nothing special at 4.58.
Game #106 (at Oakland Athletics)
Recognizing that we need to bend reality a bit, if I want to win this division, and ask more from Kenny Rogers (Grade C) than to hand over the start to Andrew Miller (Grade D-YW). Rogers pitches excellent through 5 innings, allowing only 2 hits & one earned run -- But the Tigers' bats would let him down, collecting 10 hits, but only managing 3 runs. The Tigers had a 2-1 lead after Sean Casey's two-run HR in the 6th, and a 3-2 lead entering the bottom of the 7th, but Bobby Seay would not be at his best, and would allow two runs. Jack Cust's bottom of the 8th solo HR proves to be the winner, as Huston Street slams the door in the 9th. 5 straight losses for the Tigers.
Oakland wins despite having half the amount of hits (five).
Game #107 (at Oakland Athletics)
Justin Verlander was not at his best, allowing 6 hits, 4 ER & 5 walks in 6.1 innings, while striking out 6 Athletics. Eric Chavez's three-run HR in the bottom of the 7th off of Tim Byrdak proves to be the decisive blow. To add insult to our struggles, Adam Melhuse hit a two-run HR off of J.V. in the 4th inning -- Melhuse only had one HR all of 2007.
The Tigers have started (this game) with Ryan Raburn in the #2 slot, bumping Placido Polanco to the 6th spot (eventually the 5th spot) in the batting order. Polanco is struggling to hit .300, when he batted .341 in real-life. I am now forced to play Raburn more often than in real-life as well, in our quest to get some W's.
Game #108 (vs Chicago White Sox)
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| Thome watches another HR go yard. |
The Tigers' homecoming (after 18 of 21 games on the road) is spoiled by Jim Thome -- who hit two two-run HR's (one in the 6th, the other in the 8th) as the White Sox win 4-3. The Tigers momentarily had a 3-2 lead after 6 innings, after Curtis Granderson's two-run HR.
Game #109 (vs Chicago White Sox)
It was all Javier Vazquez in this one, he had 7 K's after first 3 innings... 11 K's after 5 innings, and finished with 14 K's, as he allowed only 4 hits & 3 walks. The Tigers only allowed 5 hits, another two-run HR by Jim Thome.
Game #110 (vs Chicago White Sox)
The Tigers up 5-4, watched Todd Jones blow his 7th Save of the season, allowing a go-ahead three-run double to Paul Konerko in the ninth, as the Tigers lose 8-5. Bobby Jenks locks down the Save -- as the Tigers lose their season-worst 9th in a row!
The Standings after Game #110 (August 5th)
The Minnesota Twins have tied the division lead, and have owned the series between the Tigers & Twins, the Tigers have 6 games left with Minnesota & 8 games left with Cleveland.
Can the Tigers break this skid?!
Hopefully soon
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