At least this time, it was a pitcher who you could actually see shutting down a team.  Felix Hernandez threw seven innings of the Tigers ninth shutout in a game that saw the Tigers pick up a mere two hits without a single walk.  In fact just as many batters were hit by pitches then reached base otherwise and one of those was negated when Marcus Thames grounded into a double play.  Placido Polanco had struck out just twelve times prior to this game yet he struck out three times and it’s just the third time in his entire career that he’s struck out three times in a game.

Justin Verlander had a mediocre start and he’s now 2-8.  He gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks with a strikeout in seven innings.  Aquilino Lopez gave up a run in the eighth to finish out the game.

In the fourth inning, Kenji Johjima stole home.  I didn’t see the game, so I’m curious if this was just a straight steal or did something odd happen?

The rubber game is tomorrow afternoon.  Jeremy Bonderman will go up against Miguel Batista.

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