Leyland’s plan to use yesterday’s game as an opportunity to practice the comeback worked to perfection, thanks to the mighty bat of Ramon Santiago, and the Tigers remain on track for the Three-Sweep.
Today Max Scherzer tries to keep pace with Kid Rick for the 3rd spot in the playoff rotation, and bring the Tigers’ magic number into the single digits. You couldn’t blame him if he expects a lot of run support: Detroit has a 7-game win streak going, in which it has averaged over over 9 per game (65 runs).
Anthony Swarzak has only pitched against the Tigers this season in relief, allowing 2 runs in 6 innings. He may find the going a bit tougher today.
Magic Number: 10
Division Series tickets go on sale Monday 10 am.
Player of the Pre-Game: Ramon Santiago.
Rockin’ Ramon gets another start after a big blast yesterday. If he keeps a hot bat to go with his good glove at 2nd, it could make for some difficult lineup decisions down the line.
Today’s Back-to-Back-Ramon Lineup:
- Austin Jackson, CF
- Andy Dirks, RF
- Delmon Young, LF
- Miguel Cabrera, 1B
- Victor Martinez, DH
- Alex Avila, C
- Jhonny Peralta, SS
- Wilson Betemit, 3B
- Ramon Santiago, 2B
Santiago is sporting an .880 post AS OPS
Raw hamburger? Spinach? Steroids? 😉
Oh my goodness – Inge!
Another 1-run win.
IIIINNNGGE!!!!
67% of Inge’s home runs in 2011 have been walk-offs.
Wow. Is that 18-4? Wow.
We’re a game ahead of Texas and now only 2.5 behind Boston.
Only 4.5 behind the Yankees…
It won’t happen, but being an anti-NYY and anti-BOS fan, I could happily live with a DET, LAA, TB, and TX playoff scenario. After today’s game with BOS, TB still has 6 with the Yankees and 4 more with the Red Sox out of their final 16. It’s too much to expect them to win all 11 of them, which they probably have to do, but I will be pulling for them.
What a stretch to close the Cental!. If Tigers were to go 9 for 18 in their remaining games, either Cleveland or Chicago would have to win all of their remaing games to catch.
It’s hard to believe that this will be the first early divisional win since 1984. Both ’87, ’06 & ’09 were decided on the last games.
no joke, i was saying in my head let me yell OUTA HERE during inges at bat.
i let loose.
Mr. Clutch:
http://www.detroittigertales.com/2011/09/giving-victor-martinez-credit-for.html
Michigan fans had a pretty good day yesterday… Tigers, MSU and then UM’s miraculous comeback.