Sports Redux: Detroit Double Domination

Any time you can sweep a doubleheader against the defending AL Champs and the second-best team in the league, you have to view that as a pretty good sign. So plenty of smiles all around at Fenway yesterday. The first game was all about the pitching; Julian Tavarez went seven innings, giving up one run on four hits, and then Okajima and Papelbon sealed the deal, vaporizing the Tigers for an inning apiece as the Sox won 2-1.

Game Two was a little nerevwracking; Curt Schilling didn't look like himself at all. Eight hits and four walks in six innings, but managed to get out of most of the trouble. Enter an unlikely savior: Eric Hinske. With J.D. Drew still banged up, someone had to play right field, and with Big Papi sick and sidelined, someone had to carry the offense. Hinske did both, and almost literally won the ballgame by himself, first with a spectacular diving catch off a Mike Rabelo fly ball. Hinske didn't look like he was going to get anywhere near it, but flung himself into the air, ending up with a snootful of dirt and the ball in his glove. It looked painful. But not painful enough for Eric to smack a 2-run game-winning homer in the seventh off of reliever Wilfredo Ledezma. Brendan Donnelly (who got the win) and Hideki Okajima provided another lights-out performance from the bullpen.

Now it's on to Interleague Play, as the Braves come to town (they have to love this weather, huh?). Conditions permitting, the matchup tonight will be Devern Hansack against Anthony Lerew, which doesn't seem right for a game between the team with the best pitching of the 90s against a team with the best pitching of the 00s. Tomorrow is Matsuzaka/Smoltz, which actually looks right on a marquee.

The people of Detroit shouldn't be too bummed out, though. At least their Pistons got their act together and finished off the Bulls 95-85. After a 3-0 series lead became 3-2, the Bulls led through much of the game and the 2004 Yankees had to be on the minds of Piston fans. But the defense stepped up, the Bulls stopped hitting shots and the Pistons stayed alive to await the Cleveland/Jersey winner.

On the other hand, the Red Wings lost, and their series with Anaheim is tied 2-2. It had to be an emotional roller-coaster being a Detroit fan yesterday.

Tigers courtesy of the Eureka Springs Resort.