Other then the fact that the Tigers had to use six pitchers in the Tigers 2-1, eleven inning win over the White Sox,the game was encouraging on a couple of different levels.  Kenny Rogers made his second return and pitched five solid frames.  He gave up just one run on two hits and he had a season high six strikeouts in five innings.  The other encouraging thing was how well the pen pitched.  Five relievers held the White Sox scoreless in the final innings with the highlight being Joel Zumaya’s two shutout innings.  He was consistently hitting the high 90s on the gun and he struck out three and gave up just one hit.

Mike Hessman put the Tigers  on the board in the fifth inning with a solo shot, his second of the year.  Ironically, his other homerun also came off of starter Gavin Floyd earlier in the year.  Then while the Tigers threatened, they couldn’t push a run across the plate until the eleventh.  Curtis Granderson failed to bunt his way for the first out before and then Placido Polanco lined out.  Brandon Inge kept the inning alive with a double and Carlos Guillen was intentionally walked.  Then Timo Perez laced a single into right field to drive home Inge for the game winner.

The Tigers had six stolen bases in this game including two by Curtis Granderson and two by Placido Polanco.  The two by Granderon gives him 19 on the year and he’s only been caught once.  So he’s just one homerun and one stolen base away from the 20 mark.

The Yankees beat the Mariners so while the Tigers still sit three and a half back of New York, they’re just a half game back and could tie up the Mariners with a win this afternoon.  The Yankees are also off today.

The Tigers play this afternoon in what should be there final Thursday game of the season.  Chad Durbin gets the start and the Tigers hitters will face Mark Buehrle.  It’s also supposed to be the return of Gary Sheffield.

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