Game 1: Twins 4, Tigers 3.
The Tigers seemed to have this one in the bag, the Minnesota bats had been quiet for most of the night, the Tigers had a 3-0 lead, then the Detroit bullpen happened. To be fair to Al Alburquerque, he was sharp once again in getting out of Drew Smyly's jam, but Smyly came in for Verlander to start the 7th and gave up two straight hits before exiting. Veras came on in the 8th and gave up a walk-double-double combo to bring the twins within one, 3-2. Benoit had to come in to save the day as he usually does and he got out of the 8th inning with no further damage. Then came the 9th and Brian Dozier took Juaquin Benoit deep to tie the game at three as he handed Benoit his first blown save in 23 chances. The twins took advantage of the rest of the Tigers bullpen as Alverez barely escaped the 10th and Luke Putkonen took the loss after a single-wild pitch-single combination drove home the winning run for the Twins in the bottom of the 11th. Outside of our collapsing bullpen the other biggest takeaway from this game was Justin Verlander's "stuff" was electric, much more reminiscent of JV from the previous two seasons. His fastball was consistently above 95 and his curve and slider were as sharp as they have been all year. Verlander recorded 10 consecutive outs via the strikeout between innings 1 and 4. In the first inning he was trying to hit the outside corner too closely again, almost aiming like he was in his last start, but by the third inning he let loose and just started throwing as hard as he could, almost daring the twins to try and hit it. The Twins starter Mike Pelfrey had been horrible in September, in his three previous starts he combined to last just 13 and a third total innings and gave up 15 earned runs for an ERA over 10! Again tonight he threw first pitch strikes to only half the batters he faced (14/27) and walked away allowing 6 hits over 6 innings and only one run, stranding 8 runners. That's not good enough from the Tigers offense who's runs came courtesy of a Torii hunter ground rule double in the 5th inning and a double-single-single-double combo in the 8th.
Game 2: Tigers 4, Twins 2.
With the bullpen woes the Tigers have had in September, getting Bruce Rondon back was a shot in the arm, a big triple digit shot in the arm. The offense got going too, kind of. Detroit hit 3 home runs in the 4th inning off of Minnesota starter Scott Diamond, each off different pitches. Martinez took a fastball out in a hurry, Infante waited out the change up and Jackson took a curve off his shoe tops and that inning accounted for the entirety of Tigers scoring for the night. The highlight of the Tigers night came in the 8th inning when Bruce Rondon came in for the first time in about 3 weeks and absolutely blew away the Twins hitters, striking out the side facing the 3-4-5 hitters, not one of able to make contact. For a bullpen that's had its collective struggles, Rondon gives the Tigers some late inning confidence. With the addition of one of the starting pitchers, most likely Rick Porcello, the Tigers will get another quality pitcher added to pen a week from Friday, when the ALDS gets underway. The Tigers managed 11 hits but were just 1-8 with runners in scoring position. The offense got its long ball back, but I wouldn't say there out of the dog house just yet. This isn't a very good Minnesota staff but they have looked solid against the Tigers through the first 2 games. Ryan Doumit had a big pinch hit double in game 1 of this series to tie the game and hit a monster home run in game two that ESPN reported as just 398 feet, shorter then both Infante's and Jackson's home runs but it sure felt like it was a lot longer. The Twins threatened with two more singles in the 7th but Smyly and Alburquerque came in and ended the inning with an assist from Price Fielder, who made a great pick from a ball thrown in the dirt by Santiago. Fister was strong allowing two runs over 6 and a third, retiring 11 straight in the middle innings and picking up his 14th win of the season.
Game 3: Tigers 1, Twins 0.
The Indians gave it a good run, they've won 11 of their last 13 games and are now currently slotted in the second wild card position because of it. But the Tigers stayed focused over the past three weeks and finally, by the narrowest of margins tonight, clinched their third straight division title with a 1-0 in Minnesota. Austin Jackson's lead off triple was followed by a base hit from Torri Hunter for a 1-0 lead. The opening two batters combined to score the only run the Tigers offense could muster but it was all they needed. Max Scherzer won his 21st game of season, though it was a bit rocky at times, especially early while he was having trouble keeping square with his front shoulder. Max ended up walking six batters, but only gave up two hits in seven innings. He struck out 10 batters and the bullpen added 3 more strikeouts as Veras, Smyly and Benoit combined to close out the last two innings for the 93rd win of the season. The Twins ran themselves out of a scoring chance in the 5th after an infield single and a walk put two men on, Scherzer struck out Brian Dozier and Avila threw out Pedro Florimon trying to steal third for the unconventional double play. Kevin Correia was again very good for the Twins, scattering 7 hits over 7 innings, only allowing 1 runner into scoring position all game. That run scored however and it was the difference. Jackson in fact was the only Tiger to reach scoring position as he had a double to go along with his first inning triple. Torii hunter also had two hits as he raised his average to .304. He had been struggling in September until Jim Leyland gave him a day off against Seattle, his average having dipped to .294. Since then, Torii has 15 hits in 7 games with 7 runs batted in. Leyland also didn't want to have to use Smyly, Alburquerque and Benoit out of the bullpen tonight and he didn't want Max to throw a season high 123 pitches either but he did what had to be done to clinch the division.
Series notes:
- The tigers pitchers struck out the Twins hitters 44 times in 3 games accounting for 51% of the outs.
- The Tigers hit .263 in this series, nearly 20 points below their season average. Twins pitching came into this series allowing a .305 batting average against in the month of September.
- Austin Jackson was on a mini slump but seemed to right the ship midway through the series, combining to hit for the cycle over the last two games.
- When Miguel Cabrera hits a groundball with men on base, opposing teams take their time, get the first out and still don't rush to turn the double play with him half way up the line.
- Victor Martinez career batting average is .303. He is currently hitting .302 this year. Consistency personified.
- Jose Iglesias came in to play defense in the bottom of the 9th in game three, and should be in the starting line up come Friday in Miami.
- Bruce Rondon had soreness in his elbow after his spectacular inning of work. Hopefully another 10 days off will get him 100%.
- Let the Jhonny Peralta circus begin.
Up next:
Final 3 game set of the year, in Miami to face the Marlins and get tuned up for the postseason.
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