September 30, 2011 The Tigers and Yankees both sent their aces to the mound to start the American League Divisional Series, and both didn't get far before the rains came. Verlander pitched just one inning and gave up a run, while C.C. Sabbathia of the Yankees threw two innings and also surrendered one run. After the game went into rain delay, the stroms intensified and the game was called after more than an hour's interruption.
September 28, 2011 The Tigers needed to win tonight's game to have a chance at home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They also needed the Angels to beat the Rangers. They made good on the first part of the deal, even after falling behind 3-0 to the Indians. Rick Porcello pitched six decent innings tonight, giving up three runs on just five hits. The Tigers got one in the 4th, 2 more in the 6th to tie it at 3-3.
September 27, 2011 The Tigers have owned the Cleveland Indians in the second half of this season. That wouldn't change in tonight's game despite a 30 minute rain delay. Max Scherzer became the first 15-game winner for the Tigers not named Verlander since Kenny Rogers pitched for Detroit. Scherzer didn't have his best game, but his offense gave him enough backup to get the victory.
September 26, 2011 Doug Fister is now 11-13 for the season. That doesn't sound all that impressive unless you consider that he was 3-12 with Seattle before being traded to the Tigers. Fister got no help offensively when he pitched for the Mariners. That wasn't a problem tonight. While Fister was putting up zeros, the Tigers were boosting their batting averages. Detroit pounded out 18 hits and blew the game wide open with an 8-run 8th inning to clobber Cleveland 14-0.
September 25, 2011 The Tigers got out the whoopin' sticks today and rode the longball to victory over Baltimore. Miguel Cabrera started the homer party with a 2-run shot in the first. Victor Martinez put the Tigers back in front with a 3-run blast in the 5th. Don Kelly also hit a 3-run homer in the 6th to put the Tigers ahead at the time 9-3.
September 23, 2011 When Miguel Cabrera blasted a long two-run homer in the first inning, it looked like it was going to be a good night for the Tigers. As it turned out, it was. It just took a bit longer than usual for the Tigers to get win #91 and keep pace with the Texas Rangers for a chance at home field advantage in the Divisional Playoffs.
September 22, 2011 The Tigers top pitching prospect, Jacob Turner still has much to learn about pitching in the big leagues. Turner made his 3rd M.L. start tonight and was hit hard and often. He left the game with no outs in the 4th and the Tigers trailing 5-0. He would not get saddled with the loss despite the rocky start. Al Alburquerque got the side out in the 4th, and the Tigers would tie the game at 5-5 in the 5th on Delmon Young's 3-run homer.
September 21, 2011 The Tigers got some clutch hitting tonight and some good pitching to win their 90th game of the season. Victor Martinez batted cleanup tonight as Miguel Cabrera got the night off. Martinez drove home three of the the Tigers' 6 runs to keep Detroit in the game through the middle innings. In the 8th the Tigers took the lead for good when Cabrera came off the bench to pinch-hit and lined the first pitch he saw down the right-field line for an RBI double to make the score 4-3 Tigers. Don Kelly would put the exclamation point on this rally with a two-run homer and the Tigers led 6-3.
September 20, 2011 Brad Penny needed to have a good outing to pitch his way into consideration for being a part of the Tiger postseason rotation. Tonight's effort didn't help him at all. Penny gave up a leadoff homer to Alex Gordon and the Tigers were on the receiving end of a good old-fashioned butt-kicking by the pesky Kansas City Royals. Rookie first baseman Eric Hosmer was 5 for 5 with a 3-run homer (he has 4 in his last 3 games against Detroit and is 11 of 12 in those games). Maybe we ought to think about pitching around this guy.
September 18, 2011 Justin Verlander is having a special season. Oakland pitcher Guillermo Moscoso matched zeros with Verlander until the 6th inning when Austin Jackson drilled one over the wall in dead center for the first Tiger hit of the day, and suddenly Verlander and the Tigers had the lead. Verlander would not give the Athletics any hope after that. JV pitched 8 innings and only gave up three hits in earning his 24th win against 5 losses. Jose Valverde worked a 1-2-3 9th to put this one away and earn his 46th save in 46 attempts.
September 17, 2011 The day after clinching the American League Central Division title, the Tigers experienced a bit of a letdown. Gio Gonzalez outpitched Rick Porcello through the first seven innings, and left with a 3-1 lead. Both team's bullpens gave up a pair of runs in the late stages to make the final score 5-3.
September 17, 2011 Doug Fister made just one mistake last night, allowing a solo homer in the second inning to Josh Willingham. Fister only allowed two hits after that and the Tigers got some production from their role players to earn a 3-1 win over the Oakland A's which clinched the American League Central Division title. Wilson Betemit's RBI triple in the 6th put the Tigers ahead, and Don Kelly's solo homer in the 7th gave Detroit a two run cushion.
