Kenny Rogers just strode confidently from the mound, looking a little frustrated by a bad strike call, but triumphantly, after registering his eighth strikeout against the New York Yankees. He went seven and two-thirds innings, devastating the Yankees lineup in a way that most pundits would have considered impossible.
As he walked to the dugout, he removed his ballcap and tipped it ever so slightly to the cheering Tigers fans who so appreciated his performance that they were erupting in awe of every swing-and-miss that he threw. Only his final strike-looking to Abreu received a greater reception. He waved and met the team in the dugout, each member of bench up to greet him at the bottom of the stairs, all of them getting their high-five due.
Prior to tonight, Kenny Rogers had never won a postseason game. Ever.
This night, he led the dealing of a shutout of the highest-scoring team in the majors this regular season.
For all the man’s past foibles, the tip of the hat to the adoring crowd at Comerica Park really grabbed me. He knew just how great a game he’d pitched. The crowd knew it, too. And knowing just how awful this club was three years ago, I couldn’t help but literally applaud from my couch, and shook back a bit of that emotion that always fills me when the underdog team takes it the Goliath.
Watching his postgame interview with Erin Andrews, he seems a little overwhelmed about it all, too.
My hat’s off to The Gambler tonight.
It’ll be difficult to stay tuned into the LSU-Florida/Oklahoma-Texas games with the Yankees fending off playoff elimination, though.
Tonight, and through these playoffs, I’m a Tigers fan. Thanks for giving us something to root for, Kenny.
