With Justin Verlander on the mound, you can bet that the Detroit Tigers were hoping for an early lead. Actually, a middle lead would have done just fine. A late lead would have been even better. But an early lead was the goal in the early innings. By definition.
Rangers vs. Tigers: Early Rallies On Both Sides Fall Short
Wait, let me start over.
The point is that the Tigers had a rally in the first inning against C.J. Wilson, and they squandered it. After Austin Jackson made a brief cameo -- the Tigers love including Easter eggs like that for the hardcore fans -- Ryan Raburn ripped a pitch into left field. Miguel Cabrera came up next and did the same thing, even harder. Wilson pitched Victor Martinez carefully, but ended up walking the bases loaded with one out.
That brought up Magglio Ordonez:
... who hasn't had the best year. He's hitting fifth because it sounds like he should, but it sure seems like his 2010 production is a decade away. Ordonez chopped a ball to Adrian Beltre, who stepped on third, and completed the double play.
In the bottom of the first, Verlander allowed three runners -- two on walks, and one on a Jackson error -- but struck out Beltre to end the inning. Verlander threw 25 pitches in the first inning; Wilson threw 20.
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