Detroit Tigers Series Win Over Boston Answers Critics

June 23, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit (53) and right fielder Torii Hunter (48) celebrate after the game against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Detroit won 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers defeated the Boston Red Sox today 7-5 to win the 4-game weekend series. Justin Verlander continued to look average going 5 innings and allowing 4 runs. However, his teammates picked him up with their bats and their gloves. Prince Fielder was the offensive leader with 3 RBI and Torii Hunter flashed some golden leather making a diving catch for the final out.

The Boston Red Sox ,the first place team in the American League East, came into Comerica Park with bad intentions.  The Sox line-up gave Detroit Tigers starting pitchers quite a work-out stacking up runs early and often.  In fact, Boston tallied 14 runs against the Tigers starerts who at one point had a streak of 12 consecutive quality starts.  That shortened the outings for the Tigers starters who are used to pitching into the 7th inning on a regular basis.  Each game in the series was back and forth but after the dust settled in the 9th inning it was the Tigers who were on the winning end 3 out of 4 times.

In order to beat Boston the way they did, the Tigers had to excerise a few demons.

One-Run Games

The Tigers were 7-11 in one run games coming into the Series.  On Thursday, Jhonny Damon hit the one-run Demon right in the face with a walk-off shot over the bullpen wall. That inspired the Tigers offense who was on fire the rest of the series scoring an average of 6.75 runs. A run total not achieved since Jun 8th.

AL East

Coming into the series the Detroit Tigers were 6-6 against the American League East. Beating the divisions first place team 3 out of four, proves to critics that the Detroit Tigers can compete with the best division in baseball.

Blue Pen Blues

The Detroit Tigers bullpen got knocked around a little this series but all in all they seemed to respond to the Valverde’s designation for assignment. In fact, with the exception of Phil Coke who gave up 3 runs in 1 1/3 innings, the bullpen pitched well.  Drew Symly continued to dominate in his late inning bullpen roll pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings and contributing to two of the Tigers wins.

The Tigers have another big series this week when the Anaheim Angels of Orange County Los Angeles (….Blah Blah Blah) come to town.  The Angels swept them in Anaheim on the Tigers west coast trip. We will see if the Tigers can settle the score starting on Tuesday.