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What a huge victory for the Tigers early in the season. Detroit picked a great time for their first come-from-behind victory of the year. The rubber-match of the series with the A’s proved to be a difficult win for the Tigers, but they held on to improve to 9-7 on the young season. It looked like Detroit was headed back to .500 until the ninth inning when some great ABs helped them over come a 2 run deficit. The A’s were hurt by the fact closer Huston Street had a sore pectoral muscle and Justin Duchscherer took the mound to close out the game. Bonderman got off to a rough start in this game. He struggled mightily in the first inning giving up 3 runs and the A’s were hitting everything solidly. However, from that point on he settled down and did a terrific job keeping Detroit in the game. Bonderman was not dominating as he frequently is and only managed one strike out. On the other hand he only walked two and very few hits after the first inning. It appeared Bonderman’s efforts were going to go unrewarded. The Tigers’ scored a run in the top of the first off Zito on a two-out RBI double by Magglio Ordonez. Zito struggled with control throughout the game, but the Tigers were not able to capitalize. Zito got out of jam after jam inducing double play ground outs to make up for walks and hit batter. Things changed in the 9th inning as Detroit began their first come-from-behind late inning rally. Maggs started the 9th with a check swing single to deep second. Mark Ellis came up with the ball in shallow right field, but there was nobody on first base to take the throw as Dan Johnson initially went after the ball and Maggs beat Duchscherer to the bag. Alexis Gomez came of the bench to pinch hit and delivered with a huge double that put the tying runs on second and third with no outs. Shelton fell behind 0-2, but drove in Ordonez with a sharp single to left. With runners at the corners Carlos Guillen hit a two strike single to right scoring Gomez. Craig Monroe failed to advance the runners on a bunt attempt. Then the epic 15 pitch at-bat by Brandon Inge followed. He went head-to-head with Duchscherer fouling off pitch after pitch to finally draw a walk to load the bases. The AB took so much out of Duchscherer that he walked in the go ahead run on five pitches. Even with only one out and bases loaded the Tigers were not able to do any more damage.  The bottom of the ninth was a huge performance by Fernando Rodney. He came in to pitch the 8th to get some work and after the long top of the ninth he went out to seal the win. It took Rodney some time to shake off the rust from the long rest. He pitched himself into a bases loaded one out jam. However he found a way to get the job done. He fell behind Jason Kendall 3-1 before getting him to ground to Inge at third who came home for the force. Rodney then struck out pinch hitter Adam Melhuse for the victory. Now Rodney will head back to the set-up role after performing brilliantly as the closer. *** OEs 3 Stars of the Game *** #3 Jeremy Bonderman – 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BBs, 1 K, 5.55 ERA
#2 Alexis Gomez – 1-1 with a run scored, ignited the 9th inning rally with a pinch hit double
#1 Fernando Rodney – Win (1-0), 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BBs, 2 Ks, 0.00 ERA  On Tap – Game 17 (9-7) @ Seattle Mariners (7-10) April 21st, 10:05 ET
Mike Maroth (2-0, 0.73) v. Jarrod Washburn (1-2, 5.00) --------------------------------------------------------
Go Tigers!!!
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