The Morning After / Back To Bis As Usual

Last night's Verlander game had a healing quality, not unlike the sun's rays, or a good, long, hot, soaking shower. 

It melted / washed away mental images of the shaky pitching (except for JV), leaky defense, lack of production from the five through nine spots in the batting order, and Rugburn who is in his own private category of dreadful.

It left the baseball fan feeling clean and refreshed, eager for the next game (what time are they playing, again?)

In that next game (this afternoon's), Andrew McCutchen hit two two-run homers, and they were all the Pirates needed to handle the again-helpless Tigers 4-3. 

Andrew McCutchen, yes ... he's the complete package. Hits for average, hits with power, blazing speed, Gold Glove defense. And he'll look great, after accumulating six years of major league service time, in Yankee pinstripes. 

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Over in Cleveland, where winning baseball (23-17) is played, Jeanmar Gomez pitched three-hit ball for seven innings as the Indians shut out Miami (or MIA, as they are abbreviated in the wrapups), 2-0. The win, tonight's White Sox win over the Cubs, and the Tiger loss drops the men from Motown into third place, one-half game behind the Pale Hose and four in back of the Tribe.