Three homers pump the Detroit Tigers to their first American League Championship Series win against the Texas Rangers
The Detroit Tigers managed to pick up their first win of the American League Championship Series in Game 3, on Tuesday, October 11, at the Comerica Park in Detroit against the Texas Rangers. Being 2 – 0 down in the competition was a serious concern for home
manager, Jim Leyland, but such worries were brushed aside when the squad pulled off three homers and two runs to put the club 5 – 2 ahead in the encounter.
Doug Fister earned a well deserved win for the Tigers as he clung well to the Rangers’ hitting line up, giving away just two runs off seven hits in 7.1 innings of pitching. The player went 2 – 1 in his second start for the Tigers in the playoffs. The hurler
built his reputation from the fifth game in the Division Series against the New York Yankees. He won that encounter to put the club in the Championship Series and he did it again by pulling the first win of the competition.
Colby Lewis did not do well for the Rangers from the pitching mound. The pitcher was without a loss in the postseason and he was slated to be the big ball thrower to go into the contest. He however picked up four runs from eight hits in 5.2 innings. The
player was replaced with Koji Uehara who conceded a run from two hits in 0.2 innings of pitching.
The Texans looked the strongest early on when Ian Kinsler reached third base on a double from Elvis Andrus. Josh Hamilton put Kinsler through the home plate with a daunting line drive to the centre field. His single converted the Rangers’ first run in the
match. That was however the only scoring run the Texans would register before the eighth inning.
Victor Martinez replied for the Tigers in the bottom fourth when he slammed Lewis for a homer to the right field. Colby Lewis looked good in the first three innings but he started to lose his control after the Detroit designated hitter put him under pressure.
Miguel Cabrera provided the second run for the Detroit club as he managed a double to the right in the bottom fifth. The play allowed Austin Jackson to run home from the third base for the second run. The home team was now 2 – 1.
Things got worse for Lewis as Jhonny Peralta put the hurler away for the night’s second homer in the bottom sixth. The shot was hit to the left field as Detroit moved to 3 – 1. Andy Dirks managed a single against the pitcher before the Rangers Coach paid
a visit to the mound.
Lewis was replaced with Uehara and that allowed the Tigers to act swiftly. As the hurler faced Jackson on the strike zone, Dirks stole second base. The move left the bullpen reliever perplexed as Jackson sent Dirks home with a single to the centre.
The Tigers were now 4 – 1 and they added one more run with a homer from Miguel Cabrera, off Uehara, in the seventh inning. The Rangers tried to fight back and their efforts were rewarded in the top eighth when Yorvit Torrealba was led home by Ian Kinsler
with a ground out. Their momentum however was not good enough to get back into the game.
The game ended 5 – 2 in favour of the Tigers as they now move to 1 – 2 in the Championship Series. The fans will be hoping for a repeat in the results in Game 4 at the Comerica Park.
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