Red Sox Rally To Tie ALCS 1-1

A grand slam from David Ortiz sparked a 6-5 walk-off victory

By Russ Reed

Photo by AP

Just when it seemed like Boston would be heading to Detroit down 0-2 in the series, the Red Sox once again battled back to pick up the win, something that has become a hallmark for them this season.

Boston was down 5-0 after 5 ½ innings when Clay Buchholz got smacked around in the top of the sixth, once again getting dominated by the opposing pitcher.  

One night after Anibal Sanchez and a host of Tigers relievers combined to no-hit the Red Sox through 8 1/3 innings, Detroit’s Max Scherzer seemed to be doing them one better.  Scherzer, who has been picked by most people to win the AL Cy Young at the end of the year, no-hit Boston through 5 2/3 and had struck out 10 batters up until that point.

But with two outs in the top of the sixth, Shane Victorino put Boston in the hit column with a line-drive single to left field.  Then, Dustin Pedroia put the Red Sox on the board by crushing a double off the Green Monster to score Victorino.  But David Ortiz then struck out to end the inning, and the score remained 5-1 until the bottom of the eighth inning.

Those hits ended up being Scherzer’s only blemishes of the night, as he finished with 13 strikeouts through pitching seven innings.  Once again, the game was put in the hands of Detroit’s bullpen, but this time, they couldn’t finish the job.  Jose Veras came in to start the bottom of the eighth and got Stephen Drew to ground out, but Will Middlebrooks doubled down the left field line to try and get something going for Boston.

Then, manager Jim Leyland then decided to bring lefty Drew Smyly into the game to face left-handed leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury.  Smyly walked Ellsbury and was promptly replaced by right-hander Al Albuquerque.

Albuquerque was able to strike out Victorino, but Dustin Pedroia delivered a single into right field.  However, Middlebrooks was held at third, and a pressure-packed stage was set for Big Papi.  To make it even more interesting, Leyland brought in his closer, Joaquin Benoit, to try and pick up the four-out save.  The rest is history.

Ortiz took the first pitch he saw from Benoit and laced it on a high-line toward right field.  Nine-time Gold Glove Award winner Torii Hunter was in right field for the Tigers, sprinting hard to try and make a play on the ball.  Hunter timed it very well and leaped to make a play, but the ball just glanced off the very tip of his glove into the Red Sox bullpen.  Tie ballgame!

Ortiz had done it again, this time with the first postseason grand slam of his career.  Ortiz’s career is defined by his clutch play during the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees, where the Red Sox became the first team in MLB history to erase a 3-0 series deficit.  This grand slam ranks right up there not only among his clutch moments in the postseason, but also all of the clutch moments in Boston’s postseason history.

However, the game was far from over.  But Red Sox closer Koji Uehara, who has virtually been unhittable this season, shut the door on any possibility of a Tigers retort in the top of the ninth.

Then, more magic ensued from Fenway.  Rick Porcello was put in the game to try and extend it to extra innings, but he surrendered a leadoff infield single to Jonny Gomes.  But former Red Sox shortstop Jose Iglesias, a slick fielder brought in an inning earlier to replace the more offensively-inclined Jhonny Peralta, threw the ball into the stands trying to get Gomes on a bang-bang play, so Boston’s leftfielder advanced to second on the error.

With Jarrod Saltalamacchia at the plate, Porcello threw a fastball into the dirt and it got by catcher Alex Avila, and Gomes hustled to third base.  Then, Saltalamacchia stung a single past Iglesias with the infield in and Boston walked off with the dramatic 6-5 victory.

After their league-leading offense got dominated for 16 innings, the Red Sox responded by putting up five runs in the last two innings to salvage a split before heading back to Detroit for Game 3.  This was all the more important considering they will have to face 2011 Cy Young and MVP Justin Verlander.

Verlander dominated in Game 5 of the Division Series against the Athletics, pitching eight innings of shutout ball while surrendering only two hits and striking out 10.  

In addition, Verlander no-hit Oakland through 6 2/3 innings, something Tigers starting pitchers are apparently becoming accustomed to. But, Boston counters with John Lackey, who was their most consistent starter throughout the regular season.  Lackey rebounded nicely after missing all of 2012 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and helped pitch the Red Sox to the number-one seed in the American League. 

As a bonus for Boston, this won’t be Lackey’s first postseason rodeo.  As a 24-year-old rookie, he won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series for the Angels and pitched in the postseason for LAA in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009. 

I would like to apologize in advance to my family and friends, but I will be glued to the couch on Tuesday and won’t be answering any phone calls.  In a matter of two innings, this series just got a heck-of-a-lot more interesting.

Fluke or Dynasty?

By Katy Williams

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

For baseball fans, especially those in San Francisco, the image of the Giants hoisting the World Series trophy earlier this week is still fresh in our minds.

This Giants team was nothing short of remarkable. They were down to the Reds 0-2 and came back. They proved themselves again when they were down to the Cardinals 3-1. And then, through a remarkable turn of events that could not have been predicted, the Giants swept the mighty Detroit Tigers right out of the World Series.

The Tigers were led by their bats all season, complete with a lineup featuring Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. The Giants meanwhile hit fewer homeruns in the regular season than any other team, and their best hitter, Melky Cabrera, was suspended for the second half of the season.  On paper, this series shouldn’t have even been a contest. Or was it?

For San Francisco residents, the black and orange victory parade earlier this week wasn’t anything that they hadn’t seen before. Just two years ago, the team marched down these same streets, hoisting the same trophy for their loyal fan base.

A good, but not great, team can win one World Series through a combination of luck, timing and good fortune. But they can’t win two in a three-year span. This feat pushes a team almost to dynasty status, and dynasties don’t happen on accident.

So could this Giants team be a dynasty? They certainly have the pitching to back up that claim. Hardly anyone can argue against the combination of Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, and Ryan Vogelsong. And if Tim Lincecum is able to restore even some of his old two-time Cy Young self next season, this team will continue to be lights-out on the mound.

The Giants also have a manager and team leader capable of taking them through the season with the focus on winning at the right time, like they did this season. With Bruce Bochy at the helm and Buster Posey behind the plate, the Giants are more than capable of overcoming adversity and making smart decisions in tough spots.

Are the Giants a dynasty? Not just yet. But don’t sleep on them next season.

Not Enough Gas

The Tigers are on the brink of elimination heading into Game 4

(AP Images/Michael Silverman)

By Jesse Doughtery

The Detroit Tigers were shut out twice in the entire 2012 regular season, and so far in the World Series, they have matched that number. 

Down 3-0 to the Giants, the Tigers have given us every indication that they will not capture the franchise’s first World Series crown since 1984. 

Aside from Verlander’s Game 1 blunder, the Tigers’ pitching has been far from the problem. In Game 2, Doug Fister yielded one run in six innings pitched en route to a 2-0 Detroit loss. In Game 3, Anibal Sanchez yielded two runs over seven innings en route to another 2-0 Detroit loss. Even with their backs against the wall, Tigers manager Jim Leyland is still rightfully confident in his starting staff. 

“I have total confidence in anybody we send out there,” said Leyland in an MLB.com interview. “When you send out Verlander and Fister and Sanchez and Scherzer, you know, you feel pretty good. You feel pretty good about any of those pitchers.”

But the Tigers offense has been lackluster, anything but clutch, and above all else, unproductive.

For an offense that finished top 10 in the league in both hits (8th) and batting average (6th), and just outside the top 10 in runs (11th), we all thought they could shoulder enough production to compliment a pitching staff that has mowed down opponents throughout the post season. 

But now we are all being told to think again.

The Tigers plated three runs in Game 1, but that mediocre offensive effort was overshadowed by an uncharacteristic start by ace Justin Verlander, where he gave up five earned runs in only four innings pitched.

Since Jhonny Peralta’s hollow home run in the ninth inning of Game 1, the Tigers have been shut out for 18 straight innings at the hands of Madison Bumgarner, Ryan Vogelsong, and a solid Giants bullpen. 

When asked by MLB.com about their team struggles this World Series, members of the Tigers’ lineup have different things to say. 

“It’s baseball,” said catcher Alex Avila. “A little bit of them making good pitches, and us not taking advantage of mistakes.”

“They’ve played outstanding defense,” added outfielder Andy Dirks. “They’ve got guys making players all over the field. That’s just the way it goes.”

And when asked about his personal struggles Prince Fielder said, “I’m just trying to get a good pitch to hit. I’m just unfortunately not getting it on the barrel.” 

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder have combined to hit 3 for 19 with two walks. Cabrera hitting .267 and Fielder an astounding .188. Without those two bats the Tigers are going to have a hard time climbing back, but as the team’s manager Jim Leyland is refraining from pointing any fingers. 

“Maybe I need to be a little more creative,” Leyland said to ESPN.com. “Like I said, we talk about us. We don’t talk about individuals. So basically, as a team, as manager, coaches and team, we’ve obviously got to do a little better.”

The Tigers haven’t shown anything to lead us to believe that they can pull of an unprecedented comeback, but if there’s a chance, it has to all come together. 

Now. 

From Comeback Kids to Favorites

The San Francisco Giants are one game away from winning a world champhionship

By Katy Williams

The Giants will win the World Series….But only if they lose a few games first

(AP Photo/Mark Terrill)

Once again, the Giants are the comeback kids. The improbable team that never seems to quit came back last week against the Cardinals, winning three straight games. This is the second time in the playoffs they have come back and won three straight games to clinch a series.

Now, the only thing separating the Giants from winning their second World Series in three seasons is a Detroit Tigers team thought was thought to be loaded with triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera and reigning Cy Young award winner and MVP Justin Verlander. And so far, they don’t seem to be putting up much of a fight.

After the Tigers swept the Yankees, they had a lot of time off while waiting for the Giants to finish off the Cardinals in seven games. In the first two games of the series, the rust has definitely shown, especially on offense. The Tigers have only scored three runs, and their bats aren’t showing any sign of heating up any time soon.

At this point, the only thing that could really separate the Giants from victory is themselves. When their bats are connecting, they can put a lot of runs on the board. And when their pitching is in the zone, they can easily keep runners off the bases.

If the first three games are any indication, the Giants are more than capable of doing both of these things in this series. After Barry Zito, Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Volgelsong completely mesmorized the Tigers’ lineup, the Giants are now up 3-0, and their ace Matt Cain has yet to take the mound. At this rate, the World Series won’t even return to San Francisco for the last two games.

But if the Giants were to drop a few games in Detroit? They have proven that the comeback is their specialty. This team does not have a panic button, they are even keeled and focused no matter the game situation, which is the single most important factor that will push them through to winning the World Series.

Tigers Sweep the Yankees

The Tigers will be advancing to the World Series for the first time since 2006

By Jesse Dougherty 

(REUTERS/Mike Cassese)

Mariano Rivera tore his ACL on May 4 and missed the remainder of the season.

Derek Jeter missed the last three games of the ALCS after breaking his ankle. 

Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, and Curtis Granderson forgot how to hit a baseball.

Alex Rodriguez was more interested in getting girls, than getting wins. 

These are the things that will surface in the New York media, as the obvious excuses for the Yankees’ shortcomings this October. But at the end of the day, the Tigers were just the better team. 

On Thursday evening, with a full house at Comerica Park salivating for victory, the Tigers completed a 4-game sweep of the Yankees and punched their ticket to baseball’s biggest stage in style.

Contrary to the first three games of the season, the Tigers offense called upon the long ball to take down the Yanks in Game 4. With New York ace C.C. Sabathia pitching, the Tigers took a patient approach to try and tire his arm, and with a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, their offense exploded. 

It all happened very fast. Omar Infante single, Miguel Cabrera home run. Prince Fielder strikeout. Delmon Young single, Jhonny Peralta home run. In the span of five batters, the Tigers posted four runs and expanded their lead to 6-0, and didn’t look back. 

Nick Swisher provided the only offense for the Bronx Bombers, who were silenced at the plate for the series’ entirety. His RBI double that scored Eduardo Nunez in the top of the sixth simply wasn’t enough. 

The game ended on a putout by Tigers’ first basemen Prince Fielder, who they acquired for over $200 million dollars last off-season. Once Fielder reeled in Jayson Nix’s infield fly, the Tigers rejoiced around the mound, collectively celebrating an unprecedented ALCS performance. 

“We did it,” said Miguel Cabrera in an ESPN interview after the game, “It’s an unbelievable feeling... Four more wins, guys. Four more wins.”

Cabrera is looking ahead to a World Series date with either the St. Louis Cardinals or the San Francisco Giants, but before we look ahead, let’s look back at a dominating performance by a team that deserves supreme recognition. 

In 4 games, the Tigers outscored the Yankees 19 to 6, and while their offense was certainly human, it was enough to support a pitching staff that brought its ‘A’ game. When asked about the Tigers’ pitching throughout the series one word came to Miguel Cabrera’s mind. 

“Unbelievable.” said Cabrera to ESPN. “It’s why we’re here right now, because of pitching. Wow.”

Cabrera’s “unbelievable” could be an understatement for a starting rotation that dazzled a lineup consisting of Ichiro Suzuki, Robinson Cano, and Curtis Granderson, among others, for four straight games. As a group, Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez, Justin Verlander, and Max Scherzer pitched 27.1 innings and yielded just two earned runs to the Yankees in the ALCS. 

You should probably read that again slowly: they pitched 27.1 innings and yielded just two earned runs to the Yankees in the ALCS. 

Offensively, Delmon Young’s clutch bat earned him ALCS MVP honors. Young went 6 for 17 in the series with two home runs and six RBI’s. He is now the Tigers all-time franchise leader in post-season home runs, and provided the go ahead RBI for Detroit in all four games.

The six runs Young produced for the Tigers equal the entire offensive output of the Yankees in the series, and if that doesn’t describe a dismal offense, what else could?

Yankees’ hitting coach Kevin Long will most likely be fired in the weeks to come, Joe Girardi’s job will be put into question on multiple occasions, and let’s face it, Alex Rodriguez has a long off-season ahead of him. 

But for once, let’s forget about baseball’s Evil Empire and focus on a different American League team. After all, the Tigers are going to the World Series.