Game 73: What a Bunch of Bullpen

The Score: Padres 6 - Tigers 2

The Gist: The Tigers bullpen — prime ingredient Fernando Rodney, a tablespoon of Fossum with a dash of Zumaya — wasted Eddie Bonine’s gem, extinguished the momentum from Placido Polanco’s clutch, game-tying homer in the eighth, and blew the Tigers chances to take the first game against a Padres team that, until Friday night, couldn’t score runs. (Apologies for the run-on sentence.)

The Quote: “You have to throw the ball over the plate up here.” — Jim Leyland

The Stat: 135. Rodney’s ERA. Runner up: 20. The number of strikes thrown by Tigers relievers out of a total of 43 pitches.

Up Next: Tigers @ Padres

Nate Robertson (5-6, 5.46) vs. Cha Seung Baek (1-2, 4.84)