Important Stuff from Tuesday's 11-4 mashfest in Detroit

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Well, that was a fun seventh inning. The best part might have been when Rajai Davis and the Tigers defense botched their way into a big inning, or when Jose Abreu and Adam Dunn went back-to-back, or when Jose Quintana just got pulled afterward before he could find his way to turn it into a no-decision. Another frustrating game in Detroit became one of the most fun nights of the season in an awful hurry as the Sox sent Anibal Sanchez poorly and greeted newly-acquired Joakim Soria with extreme malice in an 11-4 romp.

Box Score

  • Jose Abreu seems to be improving. He went 3-4 with a homer yanked to left, a double inside-outed to right, and another single on the outer half to right field...and walked after fouling a ball off his foot. Sox fans, led by some local media, were calling for the MVP award afterward. It's wrong, but you can see the inspiration. After seeing him lock into certain modes and locations for parts of the season, it was pretty thrilling to see switch up swings all over the strike zone. He's pretty good. Some guy with a 161 wRC+ makes it easier to build a competent offense.
  • Jose Quintana was initially put through hell in order to grab his easiest win of the season. A Dayan Viciedo misplay turned a J.D. Martinez fly ball into an RBI triple, and Martinez would later score on a sacrifice fly. After getting charged for both runs, Quintana scrambled to pitch over two more singles in the inning. He didn't so much lack for stuff as pitch from behind all night, but managed to get through six innings without further damage despite only striking out two batters. The one slider he threw to nix Ian Kinsler was pretty great.
  • Three more hits for Adam Eaton gave him his sixth game of the month where he's reached base three times or more. He has a .462 OBP since the All-Star Break and has walked more than he's struck out. Eaton had the potential to best his first half results, but early returns have been extreme, especially for someone with a broken finger.
  • Conor Gillaspie added three more hits and triggered multi-run innings on two occasions, but most importantly was robbed of his first career stolen base by replay (not really, he was very out). Once he qualifies, which will be soon, Gillaspie will be tied for second in the American League in batting average (.327). Abreu (.299) is already 12th. League offense is terrible.
  • Dayan Viciedo with 1-4 with a walk in addition to giving the Tigers two runs out of thin air on defense. His one hit was a botched GIDP by Tigers shortstop Eugenio Suarez. Still hard to watch him play without firing into a blinding rage.
  • Tyler Flowers went 2-5 with three strikeouts. Shine on, you crazy BABIP diamond.

 

Next game is Tuesday at 6:08pm CT on WGN at Detroit

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