Tigers begin season with loss – Bonderman shrugs off sluggish start.

Toronto Blue Jays at Detroit Tigers

Monday, April 2nd, 2007

By Cory Smith

The raising of banners, a presentation of tribute videos, and a fireworks display that could rival most 4^th of July festivities brought roaring fans to their feet as the Tigers (0-1) took the field on opening day of the 2007 season.

A record crowd at Comerica Park took to their seats as Reed Johnson of the Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) approached the plate. With plenty of hype left over from last year’s venture into the World Series, fans watched with the highest of expectations as Jeremy Bonderman threw out the first pitch of the game.

It was a ball - followed by another ball, and then another. One strike and one ball later, Johnson found himself on base without a swing of the bat. Johnson then stole second after Lyle Overbay took a strike while looking, and on the following pitch Overbay singled to center field sending Johnson home. Nine pitches into the game the Blue Jays took the lead 1-0.

Vernon Wells stepped up to the plate. Facing a count of one ball and two strikes Wells singled to center field sending Overbay home for the score – Blue Jays on top 2-0.

Two pop fly outs later, Alex Rios doubled to left center sending Wells home for the third score of the inning. After taking a strike while looking, Gregg Zaun grounded out to first to end the inning for Bonderman.

Roy Hallady took the mound for the Blue Jays, who now sat comfortably with a 3-0 lead.

Detroit would stay quite until the bottom of the third when a sacrifice fly hit by Gary Sheffield gave the Tigers their first run of the season. The Tigers ended the inning with just one run, but in the bottom of the 5^th they closed the gap. After a single to left field by Placido Polanco that sent Brandon Inge home, and another sacrifice fly by Sheffield, the Tigers tied the game at 3 apiece.

After Bonderman’s rusty first inning, the Cy Young prospect returned to the spotlight holding the Blue Jays without a run for the next 5 innings. Bonderman continued his dominance holding the Blue Jays to just two hits, striking out three batters in the process. Bonderman finished the game allowing five hits and three runs.

Bonderman was relieved by Joel Zumaya, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings. He allowed no hits and struck out one batter. Todd Jones took the mound for the Tigers in the top of the ninth. With one out Jones put the go ahead run on base with a walk, but the Tigers forced a double play to enter the bottom of the inning.

Casey Janssen pitched the bottom of the ninth for Toronto and kept the Tigers without a score, - thus the game entered extra innings.

Fernando Rodney took the mound in the top of the tenth inning and started out on the right foot scooping up a ball hit by Reed Johnson and throwing him out at first. But a single, a walk, and an off target pitch that hit batter Frank Thomas loaded the bases with just one out.

On a count of 0-2, Rodney sent a heater down the middle only to be hit out to left field by Troy Glaus, sending in the go ahead run. The Jays took the lead 4-3. Alex Rios then grounded out to third on Rodney’s second pitch, but that didn’t stop Vernon Wells from leaving third and crossing home plate putting the Blue Jays up 5-3. Rodney ended the inning striking out Gregg Zaun for the final out.

Down 5-3 in the bottom of the 10^th, Toronto sent B.J. Ryan to the mound. Curtis Granderson batted first, but struck out swinging on a count of 1-2. Placido Polanco then singled to right center field on a count of 0-2, instilling the Tigers with a little hope. Gary Sheffield approached the plate, but struck out swinging on a count of 1-2. B.J Ryan then walked Magglio Ordonez, which set up the tying run for the Tigers. Faced with two outs, Carlos Guillen stepped up to the plate with a chance to be the opening day hero, but swung on the first pitch that resulted in a pop fly to second base to end the game.

Toronto defeated Detroit 5-3 in 10 innings.

Players of the game

Toronto – 1^st Baseman Lyle Overbay – 4 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 1 RBI, 1 BB.

Detroit – 2^nd Baseman Placido Polanco – 5 AB, 3 H, 1 RBI.

Though the Tigers lost, there is little to be concerned about. Toronto is a good team, and will be a challenger in the AL East. If the Tigers can take the next two from Toronto, they should be able to boost a bit above .500 when they head out to Kansas City to face a weaker team in the Royals.

The Tigers will host Toronto again on Wednesday at 1:05 pm. eastern time. Nate Robertson will start for the Tigers.