Big Bounce Gives Tigers Win Over Braves

Curtis Granderson hit a ball on the plate that bounced high in the air, getting an infield single and driving in the Tigers' final run. Detroit held on for a 5-4 win.

The first two innings featured home runs form both sides. Casey Kotchman hit a solo home run and Jeff Francoeur smacked a two-run shot to give the Braves an early 3-0 lead. The Tigers lit up Braves starter Javier Vazquez in the first two innings for four runs, buoyed by a two-run shot from Brandon Inge and a solo home run from Placido Polanco.

The Braves tied up the game 4-4 when David Ross provided the only hit off of Detroit reliever Zach Miner; a solo shot off the top of the wall. Granderson's tapper came the next inning with men on first and third off of Braves reliever Blaine Boyer. Although the Braves had two men on base in the ninth off of Tiger reliver Eddie Bonine, David Ross grounded out to third at the end of the game.

Javier Vazquez pitched six innings and allowed seven hits and four runs. He struck out four batters. Jeremy Bonderman pitched in a limited start for the Tigers, allowing three runs in the first. Bobby Seay (1 2/3 innings) and Zach Miner (3 2/3 innings) combined to retire sixteen straight Braves batters until David Ross tied the game.

The Japanese media will have a field day with tomorrow's spring game when Atlanta's Kenshin Kawakami will square off against Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka.

W - Clay Rapada (2-0)
L - Blaine Boyer (1-1)
S - Eddie Bonine (3)
HR - ATL - Casey Kotchman (2)
Jeff Francoeur (2)
David Ross (3)
DET - Placido Polanco (3)
Brandon Inge (4)