We are two games in to the best of five series between the Tigers and the A's and one thing we can be sure of is that these two teams are very evenly matched. Each team has scored three runs through the first two games and pitching has dominated both games, as the teams head to Detroit deadlocked at 1. Lets take a look at the first two games in the series:
Game 1: Detroit 3, Oakland 2.
Max Scherzer got the ball in game one for the Tigers in a much publicized decision as the Tigers rotation has three guys worthy of getting the game 1 nod. Scherzer did not disappoint. The Tigers offense got things started quickly in the top of the first inning scoring all three runs in the first frame. The tigers quickly got the stink of being no-hit in the regular season finale off their backs, but were shut out after the first inning. Jackson led off the game with a double down the right field line off Oakland starter and 18 game winner Bartolo Colon. Colon then hit Torii Hunter before Miguel Cabrera knocked in the games first run with a single back up the middle. Prince Fielder bounced into a double play but Hunter scored from third. Victor Martinez kept the inning going with a double and Avila drove him home with a seeing eye single between first and second. Colon settled in from there but the damage had been done, Scherzer had all the help he needed. Max threw a steady diet of fastballs and change ups, mixing and locating all night, keeping the A's lineup off balance. Scherzer went seven innings, striking out 11 batters, walking one and allowing just three hits. Two of those hits came in the 7th when Brandon Moss led off the inning with an infield single, that Jose Iglesias almost turned into a replay of the web gem of the year, then a home run off the bat of Yoenis Cespedes. Cespedes got a 3-2 fastball and launched it into the stands, it was Scherzer's only real mistake all night, as Cespedes was sitting on the fastball. Cespedes produced Oakland's only other real threat to score all night, as he tripled over Andy Dirks' head in left with one out in the 2nd inning but was left stranded after Reddick struck out and Vogt lined out to first. Drew Smyly came started the 8th in relief of Scherzer and struck out the only two batters he faced, giving way to Benoit who confidently nailed down the 4 out save, bouncing back after a rough week closing out the regular season, Benoit struck out the side in the 9th. Oakland's bullpen was as good as advertised as Otero worked a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th and Doolittle recorded 3 of his 5 outs via the strike out. Tigers lead the series 1-0.
Game 2: Oakland 1, Detroit 0.
The Tigers had to feel good taking game one and having Justin Verlander on the mound for game two, as well as facing Sonny Gray, the Oakland rookie starting pitcher who was making just his 11th big league start. Verlander and Gray combined to punch out 20 batters in what turned out to be quite the pitching dual. Gray shut down the Tigers offense, allowing just 4 hits and 6 total bases runners over 8 innings. The Tigers best scoring opportunity came in the 5th inning, after Omar Infante walked on four pitches to lead off the inning, he reached second base on a ground out to the right side by Don Kelley. Jose Iglesias' infield single put runners on the corners with just one out. Austin Jackson worked the count to 3-0, then struck out on a 3-2 fastball that would have been ball four, and Iglesias was thrown out on the pitch for an inning ending double play. Verlander was not to be out done by Gray or Tigers game one starter Scherzer, as he used his arsenal of fastball, curve, and change up effectively, also recording double digit strike outs, matching Scherzer's game one total of 11. Verlander has now pitched 22 consecutive post season innings against the A's without allowing a run, striking out 33 batters dating back to last seasons ALDS. Smyly entered in the 8th inning just like game one but this time Callaspo doubled to left to lead off the inning. Coco Crisp popped out in foul ground before Smyly walked Lowrie, leading to Alburquerque entering the game. Al struck out Donaldson and Moss to end the threat in the 8th. Grant Balfour came in for a 1-2-3 9th inning, getting Cabrera, Fielder and Martinez to all fly out. Alburquerque started the 9th for Detroit and Cespedes and Smith lead off the inning with back to back singles. Riddick was intentionally walked to load the bases to allow the Tigers to record an out at any base. Leyland went to his bullpen again, bringing in the ground ball specialist Porcello. Leyland brought Porcello into the game in a similar situation just a week ago in Miami. The bases were loaded and the Tigers wanted a ground ball, but Porcello gave up an RBI single to left. I wrote then that Leyland was miss using Porcello, that he was not a good candidate to enter the game with runners in scoring position as he gives up too many hits, Porcello needs to start an inning to be most effective. Fast forward to the 9th inning of game two, bases loaded for Vogt, who promptly singles to left, driving in the winning run. Series tied 1-1.
Up next: The series shifts to Detroit for games 3 and 4. Detroit will start Anibal Sanchez in game 3, and it will be interesting to see if Jim Leyland would bump up Scherzer and Verlander up to pitch games 4 and 5 if necessary after seeing how dominant they were in the first two games. They would both be on normal rest. The A's are scheduled to start Jarrod Parker in game 3. The weather could play a factor on Monday, as rain is in the forecast all day in Detroit. I would hate to lose Sanchez if they decide to start the game and its interrupted. MLB should look closely at moving Monday and Tuesdays games to Tuesday and Wednesday where the forecast is clear for both days.
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