Detroit Tigers 2012 postseason review – MLB Featured – Part 1
Detroit Tigers were absolutely sensational in second half of 2012 regular season. The Chicago White Sox led the American League Central Division standings for most part of the season and it seemed they will hold on to win the title but that did not turn
out be the case.
Jim Leyland and his men displayed some top quality baseball skills in September to replace the White Sox and claim their second straight AL Central Division title. In the American League Division Series, Tigers faced the inspired Oakland Athletics. The series
opener was played at Comerica Park in Detroit Michigan on October 6.
Starting pitcher Justin Verlander produced a magical performance to restrict the A’s to just one run. Showing great composure and temperament, the hard throwing ace gave up just three hits and one run in seven solid innings to lay the foundation of an impressive
Tigers’ victory.
Striking-out 11 batters, Verlander made quick work of the A’s batting line-up. Relief pitchers Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde also played a key role in deciding the outcome of the clash as they combined to toss up two scoreless innings.
"Early on was kind of a bit of a battle for me," Verlander said. "Just kind of found my rhythm a little bit and was able to hit my spots better, and I started throwing my breaking ball for strikes a little bit better, too."
Valverde, in particular, showed nerves of steel as he pitched the perfect ninth under immense pressure to help the Tigers start the series on a winning note. Miguel Cabrera, who shined with the bat all through the regular season, started his post season
campaign on a positive note as he grounded into double play in the first inning to put Detroit on the board.
Outfielder Quintin Berry also made his presence as he reached on an infield single to pitcher in the third. However, the star of the show was Alex Avila who smacked a solo home-run to left centre in the fifth inning as deny Oakland any chance of coming back
into the contest
"It's always important to get Game 1. The way it is now, obviously, it's nice starting here but to play the last three games in Oakland is definitely tough," Avila said. "Every game's important, but it felt real good to get one out of the way."
Game 2 was also played at Comerica Park and the Tigers, one again, used their home conditions superbly to claim a substantial 2-0 series lead. After Verlander crushed A’s batting line-up in Game 1, it was Doug Fister’s turn to impress Leyland.
Fister used his fastballs and sliders very effectively, allowing just six hits and two runs in seven sharp innings while striking-out 8 batters. Phil Coke and Al Alburquerque combined to pitch the scoreless ninth as the Tigers held on to their one run lead
to clinch a thriller.
After the A’s took the early lead, Delmon Young and Cabrera showed great poise under pressure as they drove in crucial runs in the third and the seventh to keep Tigers in the hunt.
Don Kelly turned things around for the Tigers as he scored on a wild pitch in the eighth to level score 4-4. He later drove in the tie breaking run in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Athletics, giving Tigers a 2-0 series lead.
Continued in Part 2
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