No one said the ALCS was going to be easy and Tigers manager Jim Leyland didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for his team during a rash of injuries.
The Tigers also don’t want to make things any easier on the Texas Rangers and they didn’t.
Tuesday night as the ALCS shifted to Motown Doug Fister and the Detroit Tigers were able to get themselves back into the series as they defeated the Texas Rangers 5-2.
Doug Fister is again proving why he was the best deadline acquisition for any team in Major League Baseball as he went 7.1 innings allowing 2 runs on 7 hits while walking zero and striking out 3. the Tigers starter eventually turned things over to Benoit then Jose Valverde in the 9th who remained perfect on the season in save opportunities.
Aside from Fister having a good outing, the Tigers’ big bats also awoke from their slumber tonight.
Miguel Cabrera had two hits, a home run and an RBI double, and Jhonny Peralta had two hits, including a home run, as the Tigers tacked up 10 hits on what has been a good Rangers pitching staff.
The Rangers, who now hold a 2-1 series lead struck first as they got three straight hits of Fister. Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton drove in the games first run in the top of the first when he singled up the middle.
Victor Martinez however was able to tie the game in the fourth when he lead off with a home run. During the at bat it appeared as though Martinez hurt himself. He remained in the game but during the post game press conference manager Jim Leyland said he was “very concerned” about the health of Martinez. This is especially after the team had already lost Magglio Ordonez for the remainder of the postseason with a fractured ankle while Delmon Young was a late scratch from tonight’s game as he continues to deal with a strained oblique.
The Tigers now turn to Rick Porcello in Game 4 when they look to tie up the series before handing things over to Justin Verlander for Game 5.
Ref: Detroit Free Press, Freep.com (image)
