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The Olde English Ds
Game 6: Detroit Tigers 3 Texas Rangers 5 
4/12/06, 10:33am
Well I guess you can’t win them all.  The Tigers will not be the first team to go 162-0 in a season.  I’m a little surprised, but we move forward from here. ;)  The Tigers fell into a first place tie in the AL Central with the tough Cleveland Indians at 5-1.  

The Detroit offense and Chris Shelton finally hit a rut in the Texas heat.  They got to Vicente Padilla for three runs early, but he settled them down from there.  The Tigers were not able to get anything done in the final 3 innings against the Rangers bullpen.

Shelton went 0-4 with 3 Ks lowering his average to .583, but that won’t stop him from being the AL offensive player of the week.  The Tigers played small ball not hitting any home runs for the first time on the season.  Curtis Granderson played well again in the leadoff spot.  He drew two walks, had two hits, scored a run and knocked in a run.  Granderson is now hitting .318 on the season.  The other runs were driven in by D. Young and Ramon Santiago, who gave Polanco a rest.  Craig Monroe had a pair of hits for the Tigers.

Kenny Rogers historically pitches very well at Ameriquest field.  Rogers was solid for the first five innings surrendering three runs.  However, he hung a breaking ball to the struggling Brad Wilkerson, who belted a two run double to break a 3-3 tie.  Kenny went 5.1 innings giving up 5 on 12 hits, one walk and 5 Ks.  He gave up a lot of hits, but was able to get out of some jams until the back breaker in the fifth.

The bullpen filled in nicely over the remainder of the game.  Jordan Tata again pitched very well and did not give up a run in 1.2 innings.  He did walk two and struck out one.  Tata is only 24 years old and has never pitched above A ball before making the opening day roster when Todd Jones pulled his hamstring.  He is showing he belongs on the major league roster and will make a difficult decision for the club when Jones returns.  Jamie Walker struck out two in a scoreless 8th inning.  The focus now moves to the home opener.  

&img-http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/images/2006/04/09/yCsFQpNR.jpg-img&

*** OEs 3 Stars of the Game ***

#3 Craig Monroe – 2-4 with 2 runs scored
#2 Jordan Tata – 1.2 scoreless innings with 2 BB and a strikeout 
#1 Curtis Granderson – 2-2 with two walks, a run scored and one RBI

On Tap – Game 7 v. Chicago White Sox, April 10th 1:05 ET
Jeremy Bonderman (1-0, 1.35) v. Freddie Garcia (0-1, 15.75)


[The Olde English Ds from Whitmore Lake/MI]
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