Kenny Rogers looked pretty sharp and while you can’t expect him to pitch like this every night, just having him in back in the rotation is pretty huge.  Anyway, Rogers didn’t give up his first hit until the fourth and when he left the game after six solid frames, he had given up just two hits with five strikeouts on 75 pitches.  There were only four fly ball outs against him, which is pretty darn good.

Carlos Guillen opened the game up with a two run double in the fifth.  In fact all five Tiger runs came in the sixth inning as they finally got to John Smoltz after being shut down in the first five frames.  There were a couple of good slides in this inning.  Placido Polanco slid under a tag going into third on Magglio Ordonez’ RBI single and then Magglio Ordonez slid under a tag on a play at the plate on Guillen’s double.

Magglio Ordonez was hit on the hand but the X-rays came up negative and it’s a contusion, not a fracture.  He finished one for three and his batting average stood pat at .383.

Chad Durbin has been relagated to the bullpen and with the Maroth trade, it looks like Andrew Miller has earned his spot in the rotation.  Not too bad for a guy who just got drafted about a year ago. 

The Indians were shut down by the Nationals so for the first time in a while, the Tigers have sole possession of first place.  Tomorrow afternoon, it’ll be Justin Verlander going up against Kyle Davies on FOX game of the week.

Permalink | Posted in 2007 Tigers