Before Thursday's Game 5, Jim Leyland said that Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde are unavailable, and that he was hoping to ride Justin Verlander and Phil Coke to victory. He still might be able to do that, but this wasn't the start that he wanted.
Tigers vs. Rangers: Texas Scores First, In Top Of First
Ian Kinsler ripped Verlander's fourth pitch of the game - a curveball over the center of the plate - into left field for a leadoff double. He moved to third base when Elvis Andrus failed to get a couple bunts down and grounded to second instead. And then Kinsler scored when Josh Hamilton sent a liner into center, where it was caught, but caught too deeply to throw out Kinsler at home.
So that made it 1-0. The Rangers would get another runner in scoring position when Michael Young doubled, but Adrian Beltre hit a soft liner right to Brandon Inge at third to end the inning.
Verlander threw 18 pitches, which isn't a ton, but he needs to find a groove. For his sake, and for the season's sake. One shouldn't expect the Tigers to score a bunch against C.J. Wilson and the Texas bullpen.
See More:
