Pointing Fingers

Pointing them at the guy reponsible for this afternoon's disaster: Jose Rafael Valverde, born March 24, 1978 in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. Closer for the Detroit Tigers. 

The ninth inning was classic Fernando. Leadoff single (Alex DeAza), stolen base, and a two-run homer by Adam Dunn that, when last seen, was being tracked by the NASA ground station in Guyamas, Mexico. A 2-1 lead became a 3-2 deficit, and that was the final score. 

I wish it was Fernando (Rodney, the Gas Man from 2009) pitching. He leads the American League with eight savers for the D-Rays.

Valverde has two wins and one loss (today's). Decisions for a closer represent leads squandered. Even if the closer wins, he's not doing his job.

If not for Fernando, we'd be pointing fingers at Max Scherzer and Joaquin Benoit, for positive reasons. They experienced the Toni Morrison Effect (got their grooves back). Scherzer went seven and allowed one run on four hits, whiffed nine, and issued zero walks. Benoit fanned two in his inning of work. Two excellent pitching efforts wasted. 

With three outs left, the Tigers didn't go quietly. With one out, Peralta walked. Dirks flied out, and Raburn doubled. Up came Austin Jackson (The Man!), and any medium-deep fly ball would tie the game. But there was no joy in Tigerville. Austin Jackson did strike out. (He's still The Man, though.)