| 11 June 2009
That's probably not the first time you've seen a title as cliche as that. However, I will say it's never held more truth than after tonight's dazzling performance by Justin Verlander against the Chicago White Sox.
In recent years, playing the White Sox has been an utter disaster, especially at U.S. Cellular Field. For Justin Verlander, our ace, it has been no different, as he had lost his previous six outings in the Windy City. The White Sox are a hated team for many reasons, but the biggest one of all (aside from A.J. Pierzysnki) is probably the fact that the White Sox (gulp--there goes my pride) have had the Tigers number in the past few years. Okay it's not that bad, but 17-26 (14-25 before this series) is not exactly the type of record you want to boast against your archrivals. Justin Verlander and the Tigers have made a collective effort to say, "recent history schmistory."
Verlander has been pitching like he's got a chip on his shoulder and the Cy Young winner hasn't already been engraved with Zack Greinke's name on it. Over his last eight starts JV has a 1.13 ERA and is 6-0. The stubborn Verlander who once thought he could just show up to pitch on gamedays has changed his entire attitude and now brushes people away when they try to talk to him on days he starts by saying, "Not now chief, I'm in the fuckin' zone." Whatever he's doing differently, it's working.
Tonight was no different as Verlander threw 73% of his 122 pitches for strikes through nine innings, topping it all off with a 98 MPH fastball to strike out Josh Fields, followed by one hell of an emotional Zumaya-esque fist pump. With the complete game victory, Verlander won his 7th straight decision.
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Verlander wasn't the only one getting a chance to celebrate and show some emotion tonight. Adam Everett hit a solo shot in the top of the 6th that everyone presumed would be the game winner the way Verlander had been pitching. Well, once he got back to the dugout to be greeted by his teammates, he took his energy to a whole new (slightly disurbing) level. It appears as if he is taking a heavyset air-body by the sides and "thrusting" into "it" with his best sadistic grin and helmet hair.
Meanwhile, Miguel Cabrera puts in a new piece of tasty bubbalicious.
Everett almost has that Patrick Bateman American Psycho look to him...you might want to keep Adam away from your children.
Anyway, Everett's home run did not wind up being the game winner as Jim Thome smacked a homer against Verlander in the bottom half of the 7th melting Adam Everett's excitement and making Ryan Raburn's walk with the bases loaded in the top of the 7th the difference maker. 2-1 Tigers, and I'm spent.
With the win the Tigers remain 4 games up on the Twins in the Central with a 33-26 record, just two games back of Boston for the best record in the American League. The Tigers hope to take the 4th game of this five game series tomorrow with the first pitch slated for 2:05 PM EST. After that, it's off to Pittsburgh for a three game interleague series at PNC. Yours truly will be in attendance. G'day and Go Tigers!
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