Tigers Cool Down Rays at Frosty Comerica

Detroit     5        Tampa Bay    2    (F)

W: Phil Coke (1-0)

L: Jake McGee (0-1)

SV: Jose Valverde (1)

Though he didn't pick up the win, Rick Porcello was solid in Detroit's 5-2 win over Tampa Bay. (Julian H. Gonzalez/Detroit Free Press)

This isn’t Rick Porcello’s first rodeo. He knows all too well that there are no guarantees when it comes to Detroit weather in the month of April. And as the young pitcher strolled out to the mound to make his first start of the season, snow flakes began to fell around the ballpark. A cold 42 was the game time temperature at Comerica Park. It didn’t seem to bother Porcello though. Rick pitched a strong 7 innings and allowed 7 hits while allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 4.

Detroit’s offense was quiet for most of the day, scoring only 1 run through the first 6 innings. The Tigers’ bats woke up in the 7th inning against Tampa rookie starter Matt Moore when Austin Jackson hit a 2 out home run to deep left to tie the ball game at 2.

The 8th inning saw Detroit’s power hitters come through in the clutch. Prince Fielder hit a blooper to center field which scored Miguel Cabrera, and following a sacrifice fly by Peralta, Gerald Laird notched his first hit in a Tiger uniform this season to score Clete Thomas. The Tigers would take a 5-2 lead to the 9th where Papa Grande shut down the Rays for his 1st save of the year.

The series continues tomorrow at Comerica Park and features a great pitching duel; Justin Verlander vs James Shields. Game time is 1:05pm on FSD. The Tigers will look to continue their torrid start to the season, and move 5-0.

The Roar’s 3 Stars of the Game

3. Jose Valverde

2. Rick Porcello

1. Austin Jackson