How Was The Game? (October 2, 2014)
A meltdown.
Orioles 12, Tigers 3
The Tigers were never in the driver’s seat of this game, but boy did they take a back seat late. Max Scherzer (1 GS, 7.1 IP, 4.91 ERA, 5.86 FIP) was shaky early, missing badly and allowing two runs in the first and a run in the second before settling down and cruising for a couple of innings. The Martinez boys struck back with bombs in the 2nd and everyone settled down for a bit. The O’s got a solo shot in the 7th and the Tigers had something brewing in the 8th with Kinsler on and Torii at the plate, when the Tigers called for steal that resulted in a line out double play. Cabrera homered a batter later and this thing looked close. Then, um, the entire team melted down in the bottom of the 8th inning as they surrendered 8 runs on bad pitching and bad defense. Let’s not even talk about it. It was awful. No need to relive it. We’ll do it again in about 15 hours. Justin Verlander (First Postseason Start) will see if he can recapture the 2013 postseason magic.
The Moment: Victor and JD go back to back in the second.
How Was The Game? (September 28, 2014)
Excruciating.
Tigers 3, Twins 0
David Price (34 GS, 248.1 IP, 3.26 ERA, 2.78 FIP, 6.1 fWAR)
Max Scherzer (33 GS, 220.1 IP, 3.19 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 5.6 fWAR)
Justin Verlander (32 GS, 206 IP, 4.54 ERA, 3.74 FIP, 3.3 fWAR)
The Moment: Joe Nathan gets the biggest three outs of the season.
How Was The Game? (September 27, 2014)
A missed opportunity.
Twins 12, Tigers 3
Kyle Lobstein (6 GS, 39.1 IP, 4.35 ERA, 3.82 FIP, 0.5 fWAR) got Twins hit to death on Saturday night, the bullpen didn’t slam the door (and left it wide open), and bats failed to claw back. With the season on the line, they missed a chance to put this thing to bed as the Sox led the Royals when this game wrapped. It will be David Price (33 GS, 241 IP, 3.36 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 5.8 fWAR) for all the marbles on Sunday.
The Moment: Castellanos offers an early lead with a solo shot.
How Was The Game? (September 26, 2014)
Pretty disappointing.
Twins 11, Tigers 4
It wasn’t a very impressive ending to a very solid season from Rick Porcello (31 GS, 204.2 IP, 3.43 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 3.2 fWAR) but he will hopefully get at least one more start in the postseason to wash away the memory of this 3.2 innings of 6 run baseball in which he threw some really good pitches and some really horrible ones. The bats fought back a little in the 4th and 5th and Cabrera homered in the 7th but the deficit was too steep to overcome. On the bright side, we got to see Sanchez throw a sharp inning in a postseason tune up. Assuming the Royals hang on, the Tigers will be two up with two to play. Kyle Lobstein (5 GS, 34.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 3.97 FIP, 0.4 fWAR) gets the ball Saturday.
The Moment: Sanchez showed he wasn’t very rusty at all.
How Was The Game? (September 25, 2014)
Tigers baseball.
Tigers 3, Twins 2
Max Scherzer (33 GS, 220.1 IP, 3.19 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 5.7 fWAR) wasn’t efficient, but he was effective over six innings of two run baseball that featured a bunch of walks and nine strikeouts. VMart hit a two run blast and Miguel Cabrera launched a no doubter of his own to give the Tigers all the runs they would need because the bullpen (??!!) was lights out for the final three innings. We didn’t get to see Sanchez, but Soria-Joba-Nathan did the trick and locked the magic number down to two with the Royals still playing. On Friday, it’s our final regular season Rick Porcello (30 GS, 201 IP, 3.31 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 3.4 fWAR) Night in America with a shot to clinch. Giddy up.
The Moment: Cabrera launches a no doubt blast for what proves to be the decisive run.
How Was The Game? (September 24, 2014)
An awakening?
Tigers 6, White Sox 1
Justin Verlander (32 GS, 206 IP, 4.54 ERA, 3.74 FIP, 3.4 fWAR), in his final outing of the regular season, showed up to stake his claim in the postseason rotation with 8 innings of 7 hit, 1 run, 0 walk, and 6 strikeout baseball. He allowed some base runners but he pitched like he was gearing up for a pennant run rather than a long walk to the bullpen. The bats took a while to get going but Sale hit VMart and the Tigers pushed a run across in the 6th before unloading in the 7th and 8th inning to set up a clean 9th from Soria, who of course, only pitched because the save situation vanished. The win drops the magic number to 4 with four left against Minnesota. Max Scherzer (32 GS, 214.1 IP, 3.19 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 5.4 fWAR) gets the call.
The Moment: Verlander pumps his first after finishing the 8th, and really, a very challenging year.
How Was The Game? (September 23, 2014)
Nearly disastrous.
Tigers 4, White Sox 3
It took a while for the Tigers offense to gather their first three runs today after a nasty stretch of silent bats, but David Price (33 GS, 241 IP, 3.36 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 5.9 fWAR) was the story of this game. After a few less than stellar starts in his two months in Detroit, Price made his final or second to last start this year count. He nearly went the distance, allowing 8 hits, three runs, no walks, and 8 strikeouts while pretty much cruising from start to almost finish, as he surrendered three 9th inning runs. He’s met the bullpen and the manager and figured he’d make this one easy on all of us and nearly did the trick. His late inning issues forced the Tigers to play out the 9th and a hit, walk, and hit before there was an out. Cabrera saved the day.The Royals did their thing too, so the win sets the magic number at 5 with 5 to play, although the are all but assured a spot in the play-in game if the division doesn’t pan out. Justin Verlander (31 GS, 198 IP, 4.68 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 3.0 fWAR) will make his final start of a forgettable season on Wednesday.
The Moment: Cabrera finishes off the 9th inning rally to avoid utter despair.
How Was The Game? (September 22, 2014)
Uneventful.
White Sox 2, Tigers 0
Kyle Lobstein (5 GS, 34.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 3.97 FIP, 0.4 fWAR) looked as if he was a batter or two from the brink early in this one after three extra base hits in a row that plated two runs, but he turned around and marched through seven innings of work without further incident. It was a big start for Lobstein, but despite a few threats, the Tigers couldn’t get to the Sox starter and were left with four outs with which to work against their pen and could not deliver. Joba and Soria gave the Tigers two good relief innings but it was to no avail. The Royals dropped the completion of their suspended game, so the Tigers did manage to shrink the magic number, but they’ll have to get to work Tuesday with David Price (32 GS, 232.1 IP, 3.37 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 5.5 fWAR) on the mound if they want to tie this up.
The Moment: Lobstein recovers, and pitches deep into the game.
How Was The Game? (September 21, 2014)
One you expected eventually.
Royals 5, Tigers 2
It was not Rick Porcello’s (30 GS, 201 IP, 3.31 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 3.4 fWAR) day. He didn’t have his command and the Royals put pressure on him early and often, bouncing him afer 3.1 innings, nine hits, four runs, two walks, and one strikeout. The Tigers got one back on a Kinsler home run and another on an extremely rough error by Moustakas in the 4th. The bullpen did solid enough work, allowing just one additional run but the Tigers couldn’t get to Guthrie before the Royals unleashed their three-headed monster and they managed to salvage the finale of the three game series. The Tigers will head home with a 1.5 game lead in the division with the Royals likely to lose the suspended game tomorrow afternoon. That means the magic number is effectively six with seven full games to play. Kyle Lobstein (4 GS, 27.2 IP, 3.58 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 0.3 fWAR) is slated for Monday.
The Moment: Hardy strikes out Gordon to avoid disaster in the 4th.
How Was The Game? (September 20, 2014)
Defining.
Tigers 3, Royals 2
Max Scherzer (32 GS, 214.1 IP, 3.19 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 5.4 fWAR) got the ball in the most tense game of the season and did not disappoint. The Royals foiled some early chances with unwise bunting and Torii Hunter launched a solo home run to give the team a 1-0 lead in the 4th. The Royals responded with one in the 5th and then everything converged on the bottom of the 6th and top of the 7th. The Royals had men on second and third with one out when a line drive was hit to Kinsler. He tried to double off the runner at second and Suarez missed the ball, allowing Perez to score from third. Of course, Perez forgot to tag up and was called out after much discussion. In the next inning, the Tigers got a single from JDM and a walk from Suarez to set up a pinch hit single from Collins and single from Davis to plate two men. Max held in the 7th, finishing with six strikeouts and a walk. Joba got the 8th and allowed a run on two hits. Nathan got the 9th (um…where’s Soria?) and put two men on with one out. It was Aoki and Ibanez who both grounded out and ended this one after taking years off our lives. Rick Porcello (29 GS, 197.2 IP, 3.19 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 3.3 fWAR) for the sweep.
The Moment: Tyler Collins comes up with a pinch hit go ahead single in the 7th.
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