Carlos Guillen’s three-run homer off Sean Penn in the bottom of the eleventh inning gave the Tigers a win in a game that seemed it would never end. The game was scheduled to start at 7:05, but a four hour rain delay held up the first pitch until 11:06. Guillen’s blast came at 3:30 AM, 8 hours and 25 minutes after the scheduled start, in a game that Joel Zumaya said was “the longest game I’ve been to in my life.”

Andrew Miller started his first game after coming off the DL, and pitched pretty poorly. He only pitched 4 and 1/3 innings, and gave up 6 runs. He has only pitched more than 6 innings once this year, and hasn’t pitched more than 5 since July 6^th. Roger Clemens, the starter for New York didn’t fare much better. In only 5 innings, he gave up 6 runs. Both bullpens did an excellent job, and the only runs either bullpen allowed was the three run shot by Guillen.

Both teams had chances to win the game in the ninth and tenth innings. In the top of the tenth with the Yankees facing Fernando Rodney, got the leadoff runner on with a Melky Cabrera single. On a 3-2 count, Cabrera took off for second, and Rodney threw a changeup that froze Jeter, striking him out, but Cabrera was able to steal second. Rodney then got Alex Rodriguez, who homered earlier in the game off Miller, to strike out. Then, with a 1-1 count of Posada, Rodney threw a curveball for a called strike. Posada didn’t like the call, and argued until he had to be restrained by first base coach Tony Pena. The next pitch, Posada struck out looking, again a curveball, and said something to the home plate umpire and was ejected. The home plate umpire was inconsistent the whole game for both teams. Even Maggs, who hardly every complains, had something to say to the ump a few times.

In the Tigers’ half of the ninth, facing Luis Vizcaino after back-to-back strikeouts by Cameron Maybin, and Brandon Inge, Curtis Granderson singled and stole second, and Polanco walked, but Sean Casey popped out to end the inning.

In the top of the tenth, Hideki Matsui drew a leadoff walk, but Robinson Cano hit into a double play, and Any Phillips grounded out to end the inning. In the bottom of the tenth, with Mariano Rivera pitching, it looked as if the Tigers would surely win it. The red-hot Magglio Ordonez got a leadoff double and Carlos Guillen grounded out, advancing Maggs to third. Then Rivera issued back-to-back intentional walks to Pudge Rodriguez, and Ryan Raburn to get to Brandon Inge. Inge got into a 1-2 hole, but was able to line the ball the other way in what looked to be the game winning hit, but Andy Phillips reacted quickly, and was able to make the catch. The game was left to the rookie Cameron Maybin, but Rivera blew one by him to end the inning. After Chad Durbin got the Yankees 1-2-3 in the 11^th, Sean Henn came in to pitch the 11^th for the Yankees. He got Granderson to strike out, but walked Polanco. Then, either Polanco or Casey missed a sign as Polanco took off on a delayed steal, but stopped midway and was thrown out running back to first. Casey singled, and Maggs, with a 2-2 count, hit a check-swing gloop single over Cano at second base, and Casey went to third. Finally, with a 1-2 count, on a pitch low and inside, Guillen ends the game with a home run over the left field wall.

Notes:
-Polanco made a throwing error in the first inning. That ended his record setting 147 games without an error.

-Granderson and Maggs both had great games. Grandy was 4-6 with 2 triples(numbers 20 and 21 on the season), a double and 3 RBI’s. Maggs went 4-6 with a home run and 2 RBI’s.

-The bullpen was very impressive. Even Jason Grilli pitched a scoreless inning, and it was against the heart of the Yankees lineup.

-Granderson becomes the first Tiger since Ty Cobb to hit 20 or more triples in a season. He is on pace to get 26, which would tie the American League record.

-Stonesalltheway

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