I HATE THE TWINS: Tigers swept, lose series finale 5-4

Published May 6, 2010 at 1:15 a.m.

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Final - 5.5.2010	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Detroit Tigers	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	1	4	8	1
Minnesota Twins	2	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	X	5	7	0
WP:...Kevin Slowey (4 - 2)... SV:...Jon Rauch (8)... LP:...Rick Porcello (2 - 3)

Complete Coverage >

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The Tigers went yard 4 times in a victor...wait, this game was in Minnesota.  Nothing good ever happens to the Tigers in Minnesota. NOTHING.

Same crap, different stadium.

I'll start again...

Despite Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila combining for 4 home runs, it wasn't enough in a 5-4 loss to those damn Twins. Entering the series in a virtual tie, the Tigers leave Minnesota 3.5 games back in the Central after being swept.

Like I said...same crap, different stadium.

Starting pitcher Rick Porcello once again struggled. He went 5.1 innings, allowing 5 runs, 3 earned. Porcello gave up only 5 hits, but walks were his undoing, along with a 3 base error by Brennan Boesch (accounting for the pair of unearned tallies).  He served up 4 free passes, and 3 of those came around to score. Porcello's season ERA now stands at an ugly 7.50.

The bullpen was great, as usual. Fu-Te Ni, Eddie Bonine and Phil Coke combined to shut out those God damn Twins the rest of the way.

Even though the Tigers fell behind early...again...they almost made it all the way back thanks to the big bats of Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila. Both went deep twice, and Avila's 2nd round-tripper leading off the 9th inning made it a 1 run game. But there was no rally today. Not in Minnesota.  (Even if there was a rally, you know the game would have ended badly. They just do when those damn Twins are involved)

Before I allow the gloom and doom to spin out of control, let's not forget the Tigers did take 2 of 3 from those damn Twins at Comerica last week. Also remember the Tigers made it through what may have been their toughest stretch of the season relatively unscathed.  They survived playing 20 games in 20 days in 5 cities, and remained in 2nd place in the division.

We really couldn't have expected more.

Tomorrow's day off is well deserved and long, long, long overdue. The recovery begins in Cleveland on Friday night.

Bullets!

• Over the past 2 seasons and including the just finished series, Tigers are now 5-17 against those God damn Twins in Minnesota since 2008. Doesn't make a difference, be it in the Baggiedome or the oddly colored outdoor stadium, the Tigers can't win for losing.
• Johnny Damon left the game due to tightness in his calf. He's day-to-day...as are we all.
• Alex Avila is 5-9 in his last 4 games. It's good to see the young deity start hitting again.
• Gerald Laird was scheduled to have the day off anyway, so he would have rested his injured shin no matter what. Laird is expected to be back in the lineup Friday.
• Weren't the Tigers supposed to be a vastly improved defensive team since the debacle of 2008? Well...they aren't at certain positions. Boesch's drop was the Tigers' 25th error of the season, leading the league. Every time a ball is hit to anyone other than Austin Jackson in the outfield, I hold my breath and just hope for the best.
  

Comment of the Night:

Handsomerob1 gets the nod. After Avila went deep with home run number one, SabreRoseTiger asked if the wind was blowing out. HR1 replied...

They were

after Avila swung.

Alex Avila, is a man...no a God...amongst mere boys.

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