At the end of this month, last night’s game may end up meaning little but man, was it fun to watch.  Roy Halladay owned the Tigers most of the night and heading into the ninth, the Jays had a comfortable 4-1 lead.  Mike Rabelo led off with a single and then Timo Perez hit one up the middle that looked like it might go through the hole but John McDonald made a spectacular play where he made a diving grab, scooped the ball with his glove to the second baseman who then turned the double play.

Sean Casey then hit one to left field and, when I initially saw the play live, I thought Reed Johnson short hopped it.  The ump called it a single but when the replay came back, it actually looked like Johnson caught but it was definitely close.  Anyway, Brandon Inge followed that up with a single to move pinchrunner Cameron Maybin over to third and Inge moved to second on catcher’s indifference.  Then Curtis Granderson drove them both home with single.  Placido Polanco singled, Gary Sheffield walked and then Maggs came through with the big game winning single.  So with two outs, it was single, single, single, single, walk single.  Final was 5-4.

Ordonez finished the game four for five and he’s now hitting .359.  Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco and Sean Casey all had two hits a piece and Gary Sheffield drew two walks.

Kenny Rogers put in 6 1/3 innings en route to throwing 98 pitches in a solid start.  He gave up just two runs on nine hits with two strikeouts while Joel Zumaya, with some help from Zach Miner, gave up two runs in the eighth that appeared to put the game out of reach.  Yorman Bazardo pitched a shutout ninth and he picked up his first career win.

The Yankees were off so the Tigers now sit 3 1/2 back of the Yankees, who didn’t play yesterday.  New York has three against the Blue Jays beginning today while the Tigers play three against the Rangers, including a doubleheader today.  The Rangers have played some good ball of late and they’re 30-24 since the All Star Break.  They’ve won five straight and they’re close to getting out of the cellar in the AL West.  Anyway, it’s Chad Durbin versus Vicente Padilla in the opener and Jair Jurrjens against Brandon McCarthy in the opener.

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