The Tigers had played their last 21 games in total mediocrity. Posting an 8-13 record during that span, they let the Chicago White Sox back in the American League Central race while they floundered around. Inge has a pinge in his knee. It's more like an almost total tear, though, somehow, he's still playing. The entire offense has sputtered. In thirteen of their last twenty games, the Tigers have scored three runs or less. Six of those games featured only one run on offense. With the White Sox coming in for four games in three days, this really could have gotten ugly. But they wrested control of the situation by sweeping a double-header from those White Sox.
And it wasn't offense that got the job done either, so that is a concern. The Tigers only scored six runs in the entire double-header. But the White Sox only scored three. Verlander came up big in the first game, throwing 127 pitches to go the distance in a 2-0 shutout. Meanwhile, the White Sox made three errors and left nine men on base.
In the second game, young Eddie Bonine kept the Tigers in the game for six innings (he gave up three runs) and the bullpen was great as the Tigers went on to win 4-3. The Tigers induced two Chicago double-plays and young catcher, Dusty Ryan, threw out two potential base stealers.
The Tigers' offense is still a big concern, but they made a semi-statement on Thursday and went two games ahead of the White Sox.
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