Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Going into the Friday night opener to the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros series, I figured the Tigers pretty well should win tonight and for the next two days as well. Tonight for instance I expected Doug Fister to pitch well but I wouldn’t have bet on Bud Norris of the Astros also pitching well. In the end the Tigers won the game but no one figured they would have to win it with a ninth inning comeback.
Fister had his good stuff going for almost all seven of the innings he pitched but gave up a three spot in the seventh. That allowed the Astros to nearly come away with a huge upset in game one if it hadn’t been for Alex Avila’s two run go-ahead shot in the ninth. I think the issue here for the Tigers is that they sat back and relied too much on their strong pitcher. They probably didn’t figure on Norris only giving up two runs in his seven innings of work.
I hate to say they got lucky because obviously they earned the win but I think the Astros surprised a few people with how well they played the Tigers. The result of the win is that the Tigers have sole possession of first place thanks to a Kansas City Royals rainout once again. Where before I was certain the next two games would go to the Tigers, I now am not so sure. If the Astros can come through and really hold them to five or fewer runs then they have a real chance. That’ll be the last time I count the Astros out before the game, no matter who they are facing.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
