Floyd Challenges Tigers and Emerges Victorious
By Matt Adams
Gavin Floyd went 6 innings in Saturday afternoon’s game allowing just 3 hits, all to Austin Jackson, and striking out 6. Somehow he managed to put himself in regular jams, a couple with the bases loaded and was able to wiggle free without any damage each time. Floyd hit 3 batters over the course of his day, 2 of which were Delmon Young (though the first got some assistance from Delmon himself). As they say, the ends justify the means, and Gavin Floyd most certainly got the job done.
Tigers: 1
White Sox: 5
The young lefty Adam Wilk also pitched well. Going 5 innings himself and yielding only a pair of solo shots. The first was an Alexei-Go-Boom that just carried in the wind up and over the left field fence. The second, immediately following an Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson discussion of his power, was an absolute bomb off the bat of Tyler Flowers. Wilk’s day ended oddly when Prince Fielder ripped (his swing is so violent!) a foul ball into the Detroit dugout that managed to hit poor Adam on the pitching shoulder. If I remember correctly, Justin Verlander took one off the shoulder while sitting in the dugout during the 2011 playoffs, but fortunately for him it was his non-throwing arm.
Brent Morel is in there for defense! And he proved it, making a great play in the 7th fielding a bunt attempt from Andy Dirks. Prior to that he hit a double that sparked a mini rally against reliever Colin Balester in the right center gap, making way for Adam Dunn to put one in the same area to put the team’s 3rd tally on the board.
Plus: Paul Konerko keeps his hitting streak alive this season with a homerun, his first of the year. That’s our Captain! The perception of new pitchers we’ve never faced shutting us down can hopefully be put to bed for a little while after this victory.
Minus: The bullpen with a little hiccup. Brennan Boesch managed to go yard off of Jesse Crain. That was the only time that got touched in 3 innings of work today between Crain, who went 2 innings, and Matt Thornton who threw a perfect 9th. It’s still a stellar start to the year by the pale hose pen.
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