If the Tigers didn’t make things clear enough in beating the Yankees last week, allow them to provide 20-20 vision after beating the A’s 5-1 Tuesday night.
The Tigers turned a 16 game winner in Barry Zito (1-1) into Jaret Wright all in one night. Zito could only clock in 3.2 innings of work against a Detroit lineup that tagged the free agent-bound pitcher for five runs on seven hits.
Brandon Inge couldn’t hit out of a wet paper bag in the Yankees series, but turned in a 3 for 3, two RBI, two runs scored-evening all from the ninth spot in the order. The club with the best pitching in the regular season has been nothing short of fantastic in the playoffs as well. Starter Nate Robertson (1-1) wasn’t special, but got out of key jams when the A’s threatened and blanked Oakland for five innings before turning the game over to a bullpen that has been lights out (rookie Joel Zumaya should package up his arm and sell it to a propane company, because all he throws is gas).
Oakland is in trouble, plain and simple. If the A’s couldn’t win Tuesday night at home with Zito on the mound, it doesn’t get any easier with 100 mph, missile-for-an-arm Justin Verlander throwing in Game 2. Oakland better figure out how to hit more than singles or else this series may be over before it started.
Game 2 starters: Justin Verlander (0-0) vs. Esteban Loaiza (0-0).
