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Opening Day excitement hampered
by loss
Spring was
officially in the air Monday with smells of hot dogs, pine tar and
freshly cut grass as the Detroit Tigers opened their 2007 season.
The Tigers
tried to match the excitement of the record setting Comerica Park
crowd but fell short losing to the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 in extra
innings.
Detroit
fans were anxious for the Tigers to pick up from where they left
off last season and were happy to see the banner go up for the 2006
American League championship.
The Blue
Jays were able to take the crowd out of the game early, though,
when Detroit starting pitcher Jeremy Bonderman gave up three runs
in the first inning.
The Tigers
fought back though, picking up a run in the third inning and two
in fifth off of Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay.
New Tiger
Gary Sheffield made an immediate contribution to the team by driving
in two runs in Monday’s opener.
Bonderman
finished six innings with three strikeouts, and the Tigers’
bullpen pitched well taking the game into the top of the tenth inning
where reliever Fernando Rodney got into trouble.
Rodney loaded
the bases and then gave up two runs to put Toronto up for good.
Second baseman
Placido Polanco had three hits and two RBI’s Monday for Detroit.
Craig Monroe
struggled at the plate striking out four times in four at bats.
Tiger’s
catcher Pudge Rodriguez also went 0-4 from the plate with two strikeouts.
Rodney was
credited with his first loss of the season.
The Tigers
will be back at it against the Blue Jays Wednesday, and Nate Robertson
will be on the mound for Detroit.
Return
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section.
Click
here to view the 2007 Detroit Tigers Schedule with Results.
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