Game 1: Tigers 4, Mariners 2.
Rick Porcello has been on quite a roll. He picked up his 13th win of the season with a six inning, 10 strikeout performance, only allowing one earned run. It's only the second time in his career Porcello has fanned 10 or more hitters and the win was Porcello's 9th since July 1st, which ties him for the most in the majors in that time span. Porcello is on pace for a career high in 6.96 strikeouts per nine innings and a career low .718 on base plus slugging which will give him a chance to get to 15 wins this season. Rick has been commanding his fastball well and I think the addition of Iglesias was huge for guys like him and Doug Fister, as both get a lot of ground ball outs. Iglesias saved a run in the first inning, coming out of nowhere to make a leaping catch on a line drive hit back up the middle behind second base, with two outs and a runner on third. The Tigers got on the board first, in the bottom of the first when Torii Hunter went first to third on a Miguel Cabrera single, then scored after a Joe Suanders uncorked a wild pitch. The problem Porcello has had against left handers in his career is because left handers tend to like the ball down in the zone more then righties do. Almonte took a sinking fastball on the inside part of the plate and drove it into the stands to tie the game at one in the 3rd. Both starting pitchers took over the next few innings. Saunders limited the Tigers to just one hit from the 3rd through 5th innings. Porcello threw 70 strikes out of his 105 pitches and finished with a flurry, striking out the side in the 6th inning, but was in line for a no decision unless the tigers could score in the bottom half of the 6th. After an intentional walk to Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder followed with a base hit and Victor Martinez singled up the first base line to score Cabrera and give the Tigers and Porcello a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Infante would single later in the inning to score fielder to add an insurance run. Torii Hunter drove in another run in the 7th to finish the scoring for the Tigers. Drew Smyly threw a 1-2-3 7th inning but did allow a double-single combination to plate a run for the Mariners in the 8th. Benoit came in for the 9th and recorded his 21st save of the year.
Game 2: Tigers 6, Mariners 2.
The first 3 innings in my notes seemed to read easy 1-2-3 inning, easy 1-2-3 inning...this game was on pace to be done in less then two hours. Then lasted nearly four. The Tigers threatened early as Jackson singled to lead off the game, then stole second before Cabrera was walked but three fly ball outs ended the threat. Anibal Sanchez was working it again early, recording seven strikeouts in the first four innings. The rookie Maurer pitched a nice game giving up just two runs in five innings while striking out six. His slider is tough, he just needs to develop a change up to go with his 93-95 mph fastball. the fourth inning is when the action picked up as Don Kelley turned on a fastball and deposited it into the right field stands to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. It didn't last long as ageless 41 year old Ibanez hit a solo shot to tie the game 1-1 in the 6th. The bottom of the 6th provided a huge moment for Tigers fans, a moment bigger then just taking the lead in a somewhat meaningless regular season game. Miguel Cabrera hit his first homerun since late August, driving an outside fastball the opposite way over the right field fence. Cabrera has been battling a handful of nagging injuries over the last month that have limited his effectiveness and production. It seems like he began moving and feeling better at the beginning of this home stand and he seems to be having fun on the baseball field again. If Cabrera can regain his pre injury form as the Tigers head into the playoffs, they will be very dangerous. Cabrera's homerun gave Sanchez the opportunity to pick up the win but he gave up a leadoff triple to Saunders in the 7th who came home to score when pinch hitter Morales doubled three batters later. Alburquerque came in with the go ahead run on third base and proceeded to induce a pop up to short and then strike out Gutierrez to end the threat. The Tiger's bounced back in the bottom half of the 7th with as Avila lead off with his first triple of the season followed by Iglesias being hit by a pitch. Jackson grounded into a fielders choice as Avila was thrown out at home, but it allowed Iglesias to get to third and he would use his speed to score on a shallow line drive sac fly from Torii Hunter, 3-2 Tigers. In his defense, Phil Coke should have been out of the inning after inducing a tailor made double play ball that Iglesias of all people booted, but the two walks to load the bases had nothing to do with anything but Coke's lack of control. He was generously booed as he left the mound. Alverez came on, bases loaded, 3-2 bottom of the 8th and got Zunino to ground into the inning ending double play. The tigers created some separation tacking on three runs in the 8th and Alverez came back for the 9th to seal the win.
Game 3: Mariners 8, Tigers 0.
Jim Leyland trotted out the "C" team with Kelley, Tuiasosopo, and Perez all in the lineup against Hisashi Iwakuma, who has arguably been Seattle's best pitcher this year. The results showed as the offense was completely overmatched, the Tigers were shut out for the 11th time this season. It's hard to pin this loss on Justin Verlander considering the help he was given offensively but that's baseball. Verlander was good not great. He missed the strike zone too often away to lefties with his fastball and change up, and was not getting any borderline calls from home plate umpire Phil Cousins, who's strike zone was erratic the entire evening. Verlander's pitch count was high all night, but he still went 7 innings, gave up only 4 hits and threw 66% of his pitches for strikes. Offense in baseball often is more about when and the type of hit rather then sheer quantity. If you get 9 hits in an game, one each inning, you probably wont score as many runs as if all 9 hits were in one inning. A walk-double-single combination plated two runs in the first inning for Seattle. Verlander also gave up a solo homerun to Smoak in the 6th as he drove a fastball down and away out to left. It was not a bad pitch, the hitters get paid too. Ultimately Verlander's effort made little difference as the bullpen came in and made a mockery of the late innings. Phil Coke's command was much better tonight, unfortunately the Mariners took some good swings and Coke was charged with four runs in his two-thirds of an inning. He left to more boos. Alburquerque didn't help his bullpen mate out as he launched a wild pitch allowing two runs to score. Luke Putkonen came in for the ninth and gave up a blast to Gutierrez to round out the scoring for Seattle. This game was more about the dominance of Iwakuma and the inability of the Tigers to come up with a big hit when the opportunity presented itself. In the bottom of the first inning, Don Kelley reached on an infield single and Prince Fielder doubled down the left field line. After an intentional walk to Victor Martinez loaded the bases, Matt Tuiasosopo struck out to end the inning, a base hit there and this game could have been dramatically different. Fast forward to the 4th inning and after a Martinez single and a Tuiasosopo walk, Alex Avila reached on an error to load the bases once more. Hernan Perez proceeded to ground into an inning ending double play. Iwakama went on to retire 11 straight spanning the 5th through 8th innings. Game over.
Game 4: Tigers 5, Mariners 4.
Doug Fister became the third Tigers pitcher this series to record at least ten strikeouts as the Tigers stole this one late. Fister went seven and two thirds, giving up nine hits and four runs but kept the Tigers in the game long enough for the offense to come through as Doug picked up his 13th win of the season. The Tigers got some help from home plate umpire Ron Kulpa on a bang-bang play at home, again involving Prince Fielder. Victor Martinez scorched a double down the left field line with Prince at first base, and Mariners catcher Mike Zunino appeared to miss the tag as Fielder slid around the wide throw to the plate. However, upon further review it looked as though Zunino tagged Fielder in the face before he touched home plate but the tag was shielded from Ron Kulpa's field of vision. Ultimately the run counted and the Tigers took a 5-4 lead but two major issues resonate from the play. Instant replay should be able to be used for close plays at home, much in the way the NFL system works, make the call on the field, change it if and only if there is indisputable video evidence. If you want to implore some sort of challenge system for the managers, that's fine too. We need to be getting these calls correct especially if Tom Brookens is going to continue to send Fielder running first to home because regardless of the call, he was thrown out again. The Mariners got on the board in the first inning, a two out rally was punctuated by Raul Ibanez, as he connected for a third consecutive single in the inning to give Seattle a 1-0 lead. That lead was short lived as Torii Hunter took a belt high fastball from rookie James Paxson out to left field. The Tigers took the lead later in the inning as Victor Martinez doubled off the wall scoring Fielder for a 2-1 Tigers lead. The Tigers added a run as Paxson walked Omar Infante with the bases load in the 3rd but the young lefty settled down after that and pitched five innings giving up just five hits and was in line for the win after Dustin Ackley's three run home run in the 5th put the Mariners up 4-3. The lead stood until Hunter led off the 7th with a double to right center and Fielder's single off lefty Charlie Furbush drove him home, and set up the Martinez at bat and subsequent play at the plate. Drew Smyly came in for a one out hold in the 8th in relief of Fister and Benoit came in for a 1-2-3 9th for his 22nd save of the season.
Tigers starting pitchers have been outstanding the last thirteen games, giving up three runs or less in ten of those starts since being pummeled 20-4 in Boston. It's no coincidence the Tigers are 8-5 in that stretch, even as the offense has struggled a bit, the starters have given the team a chance to win nearly every game. Come playoff time all you can ask is for your starter to go six plus innings and give up three runs or less. From there it comes down to timely hitting, defensive execution, and your bullpen. Benoit has been great at the back end but bridging the gap from starter to closer should prove the most troublesome, the Tigers could be getting Bruce Rondon back soon however and that will be huge in October. It is looking increasingly likely that the tigers will play Oakland. The tigers have faired well against the A's in the playoffs, having beaten them the last two times the club has made it to the world series. The Tigers trail the A's by one game right now for the second best record in the AL, and home field advantage in there likely meeting. Oakland won the season series 4-3 so they would hold the tie breaker if the teams end with the same record. The A's host the twins, then travel to the Angels and Mariners to end the season.
Series notes:
- Jose Iglesias was hit by a pitch in game 4 on his left hand and was immediately taken for x-rays. The results were negative and Iglesias is day to day with a contusion.
- Statistically, the Red Sox and Tigers are easily the two best offenses in all of baseball and both teams have been shut out 11 times this year.
- 42% of the outs recorded by Tigers pitching in this series were strikeouts.
- Fister and Porcello both had their swing back fastball working. That pitch had a ton of movement for both guys. They also both were victimized when they left their off speed pitches, change ups and curve balls, up in the zone.
- Seattle could have the makings of a great rotation next year, with Iwakuma and Felix Hernandez as the headliners backed up by then second year guys Paxon and Maurer, as both showed great potential in the series.
- Before September, the Tigers were averaging 1.18 home runs per game, their worst month was April where they averaged .92 homeruns per game. So far in September they are at .59 HR per game.
- What was most baffling to me about the Tigers facing Iwakuma is watching Detroit hitters swing through 90 mph fastballs like they were 98-100 mph.
- Favorite play of the series was a foul ball hit towards the right field stands. As Prince gave chase he crashed into the railing and stole a chip from a fans nachos. Classic Prince.
- Magic number is at 4.
Up next: The Tigers welcome the White Sox for a three game weekend series.
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