Just Another Day at the Office

When a team is trying to get on a roll, it doesn't help facing the opponent's ace in their park. Javier Vasquez has the second most strikeouts in the majors since 2000, and got himself another eight today.

Another game goes by, and one still has to wonder when it is that the Tigers bats will finally wake up and give their horrendous pitching staff some support. Clete Thomas got the opportunity to leadoff again, and he answered the call with four strikeouts. There wasn't a single Tiger hitter with more than one hit, and they were shutout for the major league leading fourth time this season.

The pitching staff somehow found a way to be more atrocious. Kenny Rogers walked four batters, allowed seven hits, and seven runs came in on his watch (including a Paul Konerko grand slam). Zach Miner came in to relieve, but provided no relief. Two inherited runners score on a double, and he walked the next two White Sox before Joe Crede came up to bat. On the third pitch of the at-bat he took a hanging sinker deep into the left field seats for the second grand slam of the game for the Sox.

With the game fully out of hand, Clay Rapada was summoned for some garbage time work. Ironically enough, Rapada was the only Detroit pitcher all day to consistently throw strikes. He cruised through the final two innings, not allowing a single hit.