Facing an Opening Day matchup against Toronto ace Roy Halladay, Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander had to figure it would take a stellar effort to notch his team a road victory.Verlander delivered -- for a whole two batters.
Detroit's No. 1 starter opened the game by striking out Marco Scutaro looking and inducing a weak Aaron Hill groundout. He then proceeded to walk Alex Rios, setting off a four-run, two-out rally by Toronto that doomed Detroit just moments after the first pitch. Even with Halladay turning in a sub-standard effort, the Blue Jays had more than enough, taking a 12-5 decision.
The game took a bizarre turn in the eighth inning, as the Blue Jays put the finishing touches on their blowout win. With one down in the bottom of the frame, Tigers manager Jim Leyland pulled his team from the field as a fan in the rowdy Rogers Centre launched a baseball in the direction of Detroit left fielder Josh Anderson.
A 10-minute delay followed as the crowd heartily booed Leyland, with some throwing trash onto the outfield turf.
Stupid acts aside, the trash was a fitting symbol for Detroit's Opening Day effort.
Verlander's day ended in the fourth after giving up eight runs in 3 2/3 innings -- the last pair of which scored on a three-run monster home run by Adam Lind off reliever Eddie Bonine to give Toronto a 9-1 lead. Lind, who had 40 RBI all last season, drove home six on Monday to lead Toronto.
Scenes From Opening Day
Vice President Joe Biden hugs Baltimore Orioles catcher Chad Moeller (16) after throwing out the first pitch at the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees opening day baseball game at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Gail Burton, AP
St. Louis Cardinals' Skip Schumaker, left, jogs across the field as he is introduced along with the rest of his team before the start of an Opening Day baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates Monday, April 6, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Jeff Roberson, AP
Former President George W. Bush throws out the season opening first pitch with Nolan Ryan looking on before the baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.
Tony Gutierrez, AP
New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia, center, standing with teammates Derek Jeter, left, and Robinson Cano, right, tosses the ball before being pulled from the game during the fifth inning of the opening day baseball against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Gail Burton, AP
Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano breaks his bat on his way to grounding out in the second inning in the season opener baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, April 6, 2009 in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
Pat Sullivan, AP
The grounds crew runs across the infield to spread a tarp as it starts to rain at Fenway Park during a practice after opening day was postponed due to the weather in Boston, Monday April 6, 2009. The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Charles Krupa, AP
A general view of the pregame festivities before the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Atlanta Braves on April 5, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today's game is the opening of the 2009 major league baseball season.
Ezra Shaw, Getty Images
Cameron Dallas, 10, front, and her dad Jay Dallas, of Mansfield, bundle up to stay warm before Opening Day as the Cleveland Indians play the Texas Rangers at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.
Max Faulkner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram / MCT
Arizona Diamondbacks' Stephen Drew, right, slides safely under the tag of Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta during the third inning of an MLB baseball game Monday, April 6, 2009 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Matt York, AP
Cleveland Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach, left, looks back after grabbing the throw to see Texas Rangers' Marlon Byrd (22) sliding safely home in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009. Byrd and Hank Blalock scored on an RBI single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Tony Gutierrez, AP
Halladay, meanwhile, lasted seven innings. The first six of those were very Halladay-like -- one run on two hits. He hit the wall in the seventh, though, with Detroit touching him up for four runs, culminating with a two-run homer by Brandon Inge. Detroit's late rally pulled it within 9-5, but Toronto pushed three more across against Tigers reliever Juan Rincon, all in the debris-delayed eighth inning.
For a Tigers team that started a well-publicized 0-7 last season, this was about as poorly as the first game could have gone. Not only did Detroit get manhandled, but Verlander, a guy the team desperately needs to carry the staff this season, looked abysmal. While his curve kept hitters off-balance most of the time, Toronto absolutely feasted on some poorly-placed fastballs with minimal movement.
It's only one game, but an inconsistent Verlander won't cut it for Detroit this season.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-07-2009 @ 9:36AM
jckzamo said...
Toronto what can i say , there just a bunch of dumb ass's that can't play baseball or hockey can't wait for them to come here so we can throw thing's at them
Reply