After five runs, four hits, and one walk to begin the game, Justin Verlander redeemed himself with only one hit and one walk over the final five innings he pitched.

That pitching would be necessary, as Detroit stormed back to score 14 unanswered runs on 20 hits. Bammm.

Verlander composed himself to get through the second 1-2-3, setting us up for a monster bottom of the inning. The Tigers batted around on eight hits to tie the game at five.

After a 1-2-3 from JV, Detroit took the lead on another rally from the bottom of the order.

JV repeated himself in the 4th, and that’s when the floodgates opened. Thanks to seven more base runners, my favorite being Alex Avila’s bases loaded walk, we scored four more runs for an 11-5 lead. We weren’t done.

Verlander steamrolled along, setting us up for the bottom of the fifth. J.D. Martinez tripled then scored for another run.

Don Mattingly didn’t stick around to see anymore, talking too much shit from the dugout for the home plate ump, who tossed him in the top of the 6th.

Some strong defense backed up Verlander’s final inning, giving him exactly 100 pitches and a seven run lead.

Miguel Cabrera wanted himself a triple after the seventh inning stretch, taking the base and everyone by surprise on a shot to the wall. That sent in Ian Kinsler, and Cabrera would eventually score, too.

Al-Al, “Krol Show,” and Chad Smith took down the last three innings for Detroit, surrendering no runs. Smith ended the game on a fitting double play.

Every hitter in the Tigers’ lineup reached base at least twice.