127 0 All The Olde English Ds Game 39: Detroit Tigers 2 Minnesota Twins 0 5/17/06, 8:08pm Unbelievable!!! Excellent pitch and timely hitting from the bench led the Tigers to their sixth straight victory and seventh team shutout on the season. Detroit is now 13 games above .500 and with Chicago’s win remained tied for first in the AL Central. Justin Verlander displayed wisdom well beyond his years in a great battle against Cy Young winner Johan Santana. Verlander pitched eight scoreless innings without walking or striking out a batter. He limited Minnesota to six hits and only five outs went beyond the infield. Verlander did receive help from his defense as Justin Morneau singled in the fourth, but Michael Cuddyer was thrown out after rounding third too far. Verlander induced 10 ground ball outs and 12 fly out with seven of the fly outs not even reaching the outfield. He only needed 103 pitches to get through 8 innings compared to the 116 thrown by Santana. While Verlander was recording quick and easy outs Santana took a sexier path by striking out 12 batters. However, Verlander got the best stat of them all by earning the victory. With the victory Verlander becomes the third Tiger pitcher with at least five wins. The other two starters have four. The offense punch came in dramatic fashion off the bat of back-up catcher Vance Wilson. With Shelton on base with a walk Wilson turned on a first pitch fastball lining it over the fence in left. The eighth inning home run, Wilson’s first on the year, was all the support the Tiger pitching needed. Wilson is having a much better year offensively than last year as he is now batting .312 in 11 games. In 2005 he hit .197 in 61 games played. Once again Jim Leyland took out the crystal ball DHing Pudge and resting him from the catching duties. Leyland has been uncanny about making the right move or line-up at the proper time. The only thing I could nit-pick on is the fact that Inge committed his eighth error on the year. Who cares? No harm no foul and things keep going right for the Tigers. *** OEs 3 Stars of the Game *** #3 Todd Jones – Save (11), 1 IP, 1 H, 0 Rs, 1 BB, 0 Ks, 3.65 ERA #2 Vance Wilson – 1-3 with a HR and 2 RBI #1 Justin Verlander – Win (5), 8 IP, 6 Hs, 0 Rs, 0 BBs, 0 Ks, 3.18 ERA &img-http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/images/2006/05/10/azW82SFe.jpg-img& On Tap – Game 40 (26-13) v. Minnesota Twins (17-23) May 18th, 1:05 ET Kenny Rogers (6-2, 3.23) v. Brad Radke (4-4, 7.57) [The Olde English Ds from Whitmore Lake/MI] Replies: 178 179