An early offensive explosion helped the Tigers in the first game of the weekend series verses the Twins. Detroit jumped all over Radke who couldn’t get out of the third inning. Poor pitching doomed Minnesota as the Tigers battered Radke for six runs on nine hits raising his ERA another point to 8.89. Carlos Guillen began the scoring with a bases loaded sac fly in the first driving in Polanco. Marcus Thames finally got another hit breaking a 0-19 slump blasting his third home run in the second. The third inning explosion is where the damage was done. Detroit loaded the bases again for Carlos Guillen who cleared them this time with a three RBI double. Chris Shelton again showed power hitting his tenth home run of the year for a 6-0 lead. A double by Monroe finally ended the evening for Radke. The Twins sloppy pitching a defense continued in the 7th. Thames added another RBI with a seeing eye ground ball scoring Monroe who doubled over the fence in deep left center. Another soft ground ball single by Polanco scored Thames to make it 8-0. The game continued to deteriorate with the ninth run scoring on a bases loaded walk to Magglio Ordonez.
The offensive display ended the drama of this game early, but the pitching performance by Nate Robertson can not be overlooked. He was brilliant for a second straight outing. Nate went seven shut out innings for the second straight game. He struck out seven only walking one and giving up five hits. Robertson lowered his ERA to 3.77 on the season. After a rough outing against Cleveland he has responded with two brilliant start and 14 scoreless innings. He probably could have continued in this game, but a long bottom of the seventh, a pitch count of 100 and a 9-0 lead caused Leyland to give him the rest of the evening off. Jordan Tata pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Fernando Rodney completed the shut out for the Tigers in the ninth. This was the fourth shut out game in April by Detroit pitchers this year surpassing the two from all of last year.
Hopefully the Angels pitching that dominated the Tigers will shut down the White Sox tonight and allow the Tigers to pick up a game on Chicago.
*** OEs 3 Stars of the Game ***
#3 Marcus Thames – 3-4 with a HR, 2 runs scored, 1 BB, 2 RBI, .257 AVG
#2 Nate Robertson – Win (3), 7 IP, 0 Rs, 5 Hs, 1 BB, 7 Ks, 3.77 ERA
#1 Carlos Guillen – 2-4 with a double and 4 RBI, .293 AVG
On Tap – Game 24 (14-9) v. Minnesota Twins (8-12) April 27th, 7:05 ET
Justin Verlander (2-2, 4.18) v. Carlos Silva (1-3, 8.33)
