What a difference three years makes. In all of 2003 the Detroit Tiger won 43 games. They have matched it this year already with 43 wins in 67 games. I think this fact points out the great job Dave Dombrowski has done in rebuilding the Tigers through free agency and their farm system. Three year ago the Tigers were on the verge of being the worst team in the history of baseball. This year so far they have the best record in all of baseball. I thought the Tigers were in trouble when Mike Maroth went under the knife and left the rotation. However, they just called up Zach Minor up from triple A Toledo and all he has done is won two of three starts with a 2.65 ERA. It seems every move Detroit makes this year works out. The Tigers got Zach Minor in the Kyle Farnsworth traded to Atlanta last year. Minor went seven complete innings only allowing three hits and two runs. All of the runs were unearned and came in the first inning following another error by Carlos Guillen. After that Tampa Bay was not able to get anything going against Minor and the bullpen. Wil Ledezma recently called up from triple A pitched a scoreless eighth and Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth.
Detroit’s offense got production from the bottom two hitters in the order. Both Brandon Inge and Vance Wilson had a pair of RBI. Carlos Guillen and Placido Polanco knocked in the other two runs for Detroit. Magglio Ordonez had three hits and Guillen, Inge and Wilson all had two hit games. The Tigers beat up Tampa pitching for 12 hits and six runs. Detroit’s offense and quality pitching more than atoned for the two errors committed. The Tigers maintain their 1.5 lead on the White Sox and head to Chicago for a Father’s Day weekend series against the Cubbies.
*** OEs 3 Stars of the Game ***
#3 Vance Wilson – 2-3 with 2 RBI
#2 Brandon Inge – 2-3 with a run scored, a triple and 2 RBI
#1 Zach Minor – Win (2), 7 IP, 3 Hs, 2 Rs, 0 ERs, 1 BB, 1 K, 2.65 ERA
