The Tigers left Kansas City with a series win and a big reason behind it was Dontrelle Willis’ strong start in the Tigers 7-3 win. Willis pitched six strong innings in which he gave up two runs on seven hits and (most importantly) just two walks with four strikeouts. He didn’t get the win, but he kept the Tigers in the game. He walked the first batter of the game (David DeJesus) then calmed down and gave up just one walk the rest of the way. I checked out how he was throwing on Gameday and early in the game he’d touch 90 mph on occasion but he was mostly in the high 80s with his fastball. In the third inning, he began throwing more in the low 90s and he did touch 93 on the gun in the third inning and he hit 93 twice to his final batter, Rick Ankiel, in the sixth inning. It took a couple of innings, but his velocity eventually got there.

Eddie Bonine threw a shutout seventh and he picked up the win. Jose Valverde (is he going to pitch in every game) came out in the ninth in a non-save situation and got through the Royals 1-2-3.

Miguel Cabrera brought a big stick and he had the big hit with a three run blast in the eighth inning. Magglio Ordonez hit his first home run of the season and he finished three for four with three runs. Austin Jackson rounded things out with two doubles, a run and an RBI.

Rick Porcello gets the start today for the Tigers home opener. David Huff gets the nod for the Indians in a 1:05 start.

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