Saturday: 10-5 Tigers
The dreaded lead-off walk. We’re seeing it too much in Detroit, and what does it lead to? RUNS.
Anibal Sanchez walked Michael Bourne to begin the ballgame, and Bourne scored the first run.
Luckily, Sanchez struggles in the 1st a lot, then usually bounces back. This time, that was the case: he pitched 6 and 2/3 innings, giving up three runs.
The Tigers scored four in the second behind Omar Infante’s three-run homer to the left field porch. That’s his spot. He’d hit it again in the bottom of the 6th with one man on, upping the Tigers lead to 6-2.
After allowing a solo shot, Sanchez got the call, earning a deserved ovation from Detroit’s fans. Drew Smyly finished the 7th.
Jose Veras needs to wake the fuck up. He looks dazed and confused lately, and if he wants to pitch in the postseason, it’s got to end. This appearance, he let one reach the wall and temporarily paralyze Austin Jackson, who crashed into the center field wall trying to get the out. This after allowing a double. Jackson couldn’t even field the ball and both runners scored, sending the game to a 6-5 score.
Jackson saved us, hitting a two-run triple to the wall the very next inning. What a G. The Tigers piled on two more runs for the 10-5 final.
Sunday: 4-0 Indians
Despite sucking in the first inning, Justin Verlander pitched great, allowing no runs for seven innings. It was actually clutch closer Joaquin Benoit who blew this one.
0-0 in the top of the ninth, Benny walked the first two batters he faced. Uh-oh. After the next snarf bunted the runners to second and third, we intentionally walked the bases loaded. WTF?
= Grand Slam, first hit of the inning.
The Tigers rallied in the bottom of the ninth, but Infante was ruled out after Alex Avila’s single nailed him running from second to third.