Detroit Tigers Smash Rockies, Score Every Inning; First Time Since 1914
The Detroit Tigers destroyed the Colorado Rockies Friday night, scoring in every inning of the game. The Tigers haven’t done that in Detroit since at least 1914, according to post game commentary by Fox Sports Detroit.
Think about that. We’ve fought World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, the second Persian Gulf War, and a war in Afghanistan since the last time the Detroit Tigers scored in every inning of a ballgame at home. Detroit Tiger Ty Cobb won the batting title that year.
The Latino Detroit Tigers were especially on their game tonight, apropos given that tonight was the Detroit Tigers’ annual Fiesta Tigres game, a celebration that recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of Latin American ball players. Former Tigers catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez was at the ball park and was honored by the Tigers’ organization. Latin American players Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez (both from Venezuela) and Mexican-American J.D. Martinez all hit home runs. In all, nine of the Tigers’ 11 runs, and eight of the Tigers’ RBIs were contributed by Latino players. Six of the Tigers’ nine players in tonight’s starting lineup are of Latin American descent. Detroit wore special uniforms with the team name in Spanish: TIGRES.
The Tigers won the game 11 to 5 after the Tigers’ bullpen did their level best to make a blowout game interesting in the ninth inning. Rick Porcello gave up two runs in the second inning on his way to an eighth inning win. Porcello hurled a season-high 10 strikeouts against the Colorado Rockies against two base-on-balls. The Tigers tied the game at two when Alex Avila drove in J.D. Martinez in the bottom of the second. Miguel Cabrera hit a solo home run in the third, giving Los Tigres the lead.
Detroit never looked back on its way to giving Rick Porcello his 13th win, continuing to pile on the runs. Porcello is tied with fellow Tiger Max Scherzer at the top of the American League (and Major League Baseball) for wins. With the recent addition of David Price, acquired from Tampa Bay, the Tigers are charging into the second half of the season with the best five man starting rotation in recent memory. This is in addition to one of the best hitting lineups in the game. The only question mark on this Tigers team is the bullpen, which — theoretically, at least — has been shored up by the addition of Joakim Soria.
[Photo via Bing]
