Square in the left ventricle of the 17-day streak of games was a plush home stand with the Orioles and Twins. Detroit took three of four from Baltimore and two of three from Minnesota, slightly adding to their lead over the White Sox and Twins in the division, and although the AL Central is still weaker than a Tic Tac, the Tigers are only a few games behind the top contenders for the AL Wild Card.
Monday: Detroit 6, Baltimore 5 — Every Monday my girlfriend and I go to this wings place down the road from our house, not only because because it's adorable and cute and makes us a real couple, but also because the wings are 50 cents that night. We strolled into the place around 7:15 p.m., about 10 minutes after first pitch, and we saw the Tigers already down 5-0 with just one out in the first inning, which made the first time in that restaurant's short history that the words "Jesus Christ" were uttered that loudly by a patron just walking in. And wouldn't you know it, that was all the mayhem Justin Verlander would allow on his watch, actually going eight innings and opening the door for Clete Thomas's walk-off home run.
Tuesday: Baltimore 8, Detroit 2 — The O's scored in the first again, this time off new Tiger Jarrod Washburn, but only a single run. It was, however, a lead too much for the Tigers to overcome.
Wednesday: Detroit 4, Baltimore 2 — I'm well aware Magglio Ordoñez is having a down year, and I'm also aware that "a down year" is putting it nicely. But it seems as if any time he hits a home run this year, I'm not by the TV to watch it. Maybe I should just stop watching all of his at bats this year.
Thursday: Detroit 7, Baltimre 3 — Of all the new faces this year, Gerald Laird has to be my favorite. Sure, he's hitting like a backup shortstop, but everything else he does is done right. But it looks like an even newer face may steal some of his games. Double-A callup Alex Avila (son of the assistant GM Al Avila) corked an RBI double in his second at bat and Rick Porcello won his 10th game on an unscheduled Whippersnapper Appreciation Day.
Friday: Detroit 10, Minnesota 8 — Time for a The Simpsons quote alert. "You know, Fox turned into a hardcore sex channel so gradually, I didn't even notice," said Marge Simpson in an episode set in the future. My idea of porn in 2009 on Fox Sports Detroit is seeing Detroit score a bevy of runs on Minnesota. Six runs were had in the first, including Avila's first career home run. And here's how great those 10 runs were. I didn't even give a hoot about the eight allowed by Armando Gallaraga and friends.
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