Staggering To The Finish Line

Since the twelve game winning streak ended a week ago, the Tigers have lost exactly every other day, four times out of seven, to the very beatable Athletics, Royals, and Orioles.

The O's have lost 90 games. Someone's beating them. It isn't us. 

Tonight, Jacob Turner again proved that he's not ready for the major leagues, allowing five runs and seven hits -- among them homers by Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy -- in three innings. 

Delmon Young homered with two on to tie the score, but the Orioles, dressed as Fighting Ferrets, manufactured a sixth inning run off David Pauley that proved to be the difference in a 6-5 loss.

 Tiger fans are used to stumbling September finishes. This year, they've already clinched the division. These last few games are still important. If they don't start winning, they'll lose home field advantage in the Division Series and have to play the Yankees, and the Texas Rangers will be the team opening at home.

Good fortune smiled on our team again, as the Rangers lost in Oakland to keep pace with the retreating Tigers. Both teams have 90-66 records with six to play and a lot still on the line.

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Good fortune laughed at the Cardinals, who were ready to close within one game of the Braves in the NL Wild Card race after being 10.5 out on September 3rd. 

In the eighth, a 6-2 lead over the Mets became an 8-6 deficit. Three two-run hits, by Justin Tuner, Jose Reyes, and Ruben Tejada, finished them off; for the night and maybe for the season.