The Official Site of Mike Maroth

MAY 12, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS -- It keeps happening, so there's got to be something to it.

Mike Maroth pitches, and the Detroit Tigers win. Again and again and again.

Seven consecutive times to start this season. Seven times in nine tries before Maroth got hurt last season.

Maroth pitches, they win. Got to be something to it.

It happened again Friday night, with Maroth beating Johan Santana and the Tigers beating Minnesota, 7-3. That's the second time this year a Maroth-Santana matchup has ended in the Tigers' favor.

It helps that the Tigers score for Maroth, as they did Friday. The red-hot Carlos Guillen had three hits and drove in four runs, and the Tigers scored five times in three innings after Santana left the game.

Fine. But the fact is, the Tigers had two runs in six innings against Santana. Maroth allowed the Twins one run in 6 2/3.

"That was one of the best games I've seen Mike pitch in a long time," said third baseman Brandon Inge, who drove in the tie-breaking run in the second inning. "He was clutch."

The Tigers are winning often now no matter who pitches. They've won 10 of their last 11, they're already 10 games over .500, and they already have a better record than they did at the same stage last year.

They're good, and it's showing.

But maybe what's starting to show is that Maroth is good, too.

"I think the best thing about Mike Maroth is he competes," manager Jim Leyland said. "He goes out there and never gives in. I think his teammates feel the same way I do. They know he's going to go out there and compete.

"He's going to do everything he can to give his team a chance to win, and I think his teammates appreciate that."

Maroth came close to holding the Twins without a run. They scored only in the first inning, and only with help. First baseman Marcus Thames pulled his foot off the bag on a throw from Guillen, allowing Luis Castillo to reach, and Castillo scored the only run the Twins would get against Maroth.

Maroth handed the game to the bullpen two outs into the seventh, with the Tigers ahead 4-1. Jose Mesa got one out, Fernando Rodney survived his own throwing error and a Justin Morneau home run, and Todd Jones survived a walk and a double to pitch a scoreless ninth.

And the Tigers won.

Again, they almost always win when Maroth starts.

Think about it. Santana might be the best pitcher in the game, and the Twins are just 4-4 in his eight starts this season. Since the start of last year, they're 31-11 with him on the mound.

Over the same period, the Tigers are 14-2 with Maroth, including 7-0 this year.

What do you make of it? Whatever you want, but the facts are the facts.

When Maroth starts, the Tigers win.