Game 2 proved to be even better than opening day for the Tigers. They got off to a fantastic start in the top of the first. After going 0-5 on opening day, Granderson nearly led off the game with a home run. The ball bounced off the top of the fence in right and he settled for a double. Polanco followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Pudge followed with a double scoring Granderson and moving Polanco to 3rd. Magglio drove in Polanco with a sac fly and Pudge scored on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the inning Jeremy Bonderman showed he was ready to step his game to this season. Bonderman gave up a lead-off triple to DeJesus, but did not allow him to score. He struck out Grudzielanek, got Sweeney to weakly pop out to first and K’ed Reggie Sanders. Bonderman matched the two strike outs in a 1-2-3 second inning.
The offense quieted between the 2nd through the 4th innings. Things picked up again in the 5th when Brandon Inge blasted a 416 ft. HR to center making it 4-0. Polanco singled for the second time in the game and Ivan Rodriguez hit another homer to center. The two run shot provided Pudge with his 3rd hit in 3 ABs. At that point Mays hit the showers after surrendering 6 runs.
Bonderman dominated the Royals batters after the lead-off triple. He retired 15 in-a-row before giving up a double to Angel Berroa to start the 6th. Berroa helped out Detoit’s defense getting picked off on a grounder to Inge at 3rd. Bonderman easily escaped further trouble in the inning.
The top of the 7th brought more runs for the Tigers. Inge doubled for his second hit and Granderson singled giving him a pair of hits. Polanco drove in the run with a single his third hit of the game. The Royals were not able to get Pudge out all day. He drilled his fourth hit, a double, down the right field line bringing in two more runs. Pudge only a triple from the cycle possibly could have made it to third, but decided to settle for his second double of the game. D. Young decided to get it on the action making it 10-0 with an RBI single.
Bonderman gave up a double with two outs in the 7th. Leyland went to the pen and Chris Spurling let Bonderman down by serving up a HR to Emil Brown. Bonderman was responsible for the runner on second thus gave up one earned run. Hopefully Spurling got that out of his system in a spot that really did not matter. Too many times last year it seemed like Spurling surrendered homers in close games.
Granderson made up for just missing a HR to lead-off the game by homering in the 8th. Pudge went 5 for 5 with his third double to center. Marcus Thames made rmayer’s day by hitting a 384 ft. HR in the 9th in his 1st AB of the year. Adding insult to the Royals situation Shelton followed with his 3rd hit of the game then Guillen hit his second home run of the season. Craig Monroe proceeded to be hit by the next pitch leading to the ejection of the Royals pitcher.
Spurling gave way to Jamie Walker in the 9th, who gave up a HR to Costa. Spurling went 1.1 innings giving up the one HR and one run. Walker pitched the 9th only giving up the one run. This was a good game for the bullpen to give up some HRs with the large cushion.
*** OEs 3 Stars of the Game ***
#3 Curtis Granderson – 3-6 with a HR, 3 runs scored and one RBI
#2 Pudge Rodriguez – 5-5 including a HR and 3 doubles, 3 runs and 5 RBIs
#1 Jeremy Bonderman – 6.2 innings, 1 run, 0 BB, 8 Ks, 3 Hs, 92 pitches (65 strikes)
DET HR - C. Granderson (1) C. Guillen (2) B. Inge (1) I. Rodriguez (1) M. Thames (1)
KC HR - E. Brown (1) S. Costa (1)
