Game 65: A Faint Clicking Sound?

ESPN highlights available here.

The Score: Tigers 5 - White Sox 1

The Gist: Now that’s Justin Verlander, folks: a four-hit complete game with no walks — a trifecta of undoability so far in 2008 for the Tigers staff. Marcus Thames sparked the offense with a three-run homer in the second. Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco and Edgar Renteria collected two hits each. And, perhaps a sign of a thawing offense, Polanco finally reached the .300 mark.

The Quote: “It’s no secret that Latin players like rice and beans on a daily basis.” - Rod Allen on the broadcast. What the…?

The Stat: 364. The number of days that have passed between complete games by a Tigers starter.

My Two Cents: Okay, I admit it. I’m encouraged by this little two-game streak. But, hey, the Tigers have won four of six and, although they are nine games back, they’ve just secured a series win against the division leader with a chance for a sweep on Thursday. I’m not sure if my ears are working right, but I think I hear a clicking sound — however soft — from the third-base dugout at Comerica Park.

Up Next: White Sox @ Tigers

Kenny Rogers (4-4) vs. Mark Buehrle (3-6)