Don Kelly and Delmon Young got things going early with back-to-back bombs. That was a good sign for the Tiger faithful. With the way Nova owned the Tiger lineup in Game 1, it was a relief to get some knocks on him. At the time, though, the first two Tiger runs were seen only as the first of many. The Tiger bats would need to keep pounding away if they had any chance to beat the Yankees, right? Prior to the game, I felt the magic number was 6. The Yankees would likely score 4 runs off the Tigers' starter, Doug Fister, and then get 1 more off the 'pen. So, if the Tigers managed 6 runs, they had a great shot to win.
Well, they didn't come close to 6. They managed just half of that. And still won. Thanks to some clutch, gut-wrenching pitching by Fister, Scherzer, Benoit, and Papa Grande.
Fister pitched in stress all night. With the series on the line in a setting as raucous and intimidating as Yankee Stadium, that's no surprise. The Yanks went 1-2-3 in the first inning. Then didn't go 1-2-3 again until the fateful bottom of the 9th. The Yankee bats continued their mastery of the strikezone. They simply did not swing at balls. Their patience was something to behold. They forced the Tigers to throw a whopping 173 total pitches. But the Tiger arms did just enough.
Fister lasted 5 innings, giving up one run on a monster HR by Cano. The 5 innings may not seem like a strong start, but, for a kid earning the league minimum facing off against the $196 million Yankees, Fister's 92 pitch gem impresses me as much as a regular season no-no. Scherzer, the hero of Game 2, entered in relief and continued his unlikely good fortune against the Yankee lineup. Scherzer left after registering just 4 outs, but it's fair to say he pitched a whale of a game. That's how tight every at-bat, nay, every pitch was in this tense affair.
Benoit relieved Scherzer in the 7th after Scherzer notched 1 out and then ceded a swinging bunt single to Jeter. And it was another roll of the dice by Leyland, hoping Benoit could last the 7th and 8th. Benoit immediately gave up a single to Granderson, and then a swinging bunt knubber by Cano. The bases were loaded with one out. I had a dreadful feeling the Tigers' season would be decided by two swinging bunts! The ultimate irony against such a powerful offense as the Yankees. But fortune smiled on the Tigers last night. Benoit struck out Alex Rodriguez. Then walked Texeira (giving the Yanks their 2nd and last run of the night) and then struck out Nick Swisher.
Benoit's job didn't get much easier in the 8th. The Tiger bats fell silent after the 5th inning, and it looked like tack-on runs were unlikely to say the least, Benoit had to make that one-run lead hold. Benoit quickly got the first two outs. Then gave up a single to the pesky Brett Gardner (batting .412 for the series). The next batter, Derek Jeter, took Benoit's first pitch and sent it deep into right field. Don Kelly raced back to the warning track. He turned around, just a foot or two from the wall. As the ball floated onward, Kelly inched backward. He said, "I could feel the fans breathing." It was an agonizing few seconds. Kelly stopped inching backward, and the ball fell calmly into the soft-bound stitching of his mitt.
New York fans threw their arms up in despair. How much closer can they get?! They left the bases loaded against Fister. Then again against Benoit. Then a warning track tease by Jeter!
After such dramatics, it was a massive come-down to see Mariano Rivera need just five pitches to register all 3 outs in the top of the 9th. Clearly, the Tigers had no choice but to let Valverde decide their fate. Could he save their butts for the 51st time in a row?
This was indeed the 2011 Detroit Tigers. Never easy to watch.
Papa Grande did not disappoint. He left his theatrics in Detroit this time. Curtis Granderson worked a full count, but eventually flied out. Then came Cano. He surprised everyone by swinging at the first pitch, which sawed off his bat. The ball flew toward Austin Jackson. Jackson had a little difficulty judging the trajectory then calmly caught the curving liner near his hip. 2 outs. With Alex Rodriguez looming.
A-Rod flubbed his chance in the 7th inning with the bases loaded. Now was his shot at redemption. Standing in his way was a beer-belly (that would make Homer Simpson proud) and a wicked split-finger fastball. Papa Grande did not waste time. Strike, strike, ball, and then the glorious strike three.
Valverde celebrated, but it wasn't his usual dance-reel highlight. It was a shout and jump of pure elation. The moment provided all the theatrics necessary.
In the locker-room, with champagne pouring down his head, Valverde looked penitent. He clearly regretted his prediction after Game 2 that the series was "over." He talked no trash and radiated no boastful confidence. He was relieved and thankful that his pitches made their way over the plate.
Now the Tigers move on, to face perhaps an even stronger team. It's tough to match the Yankee bats, but the Rangers certainly come close. JoKo thinks the Rangers are stronger. That's possible. The Rangers do boast a much stronger pitching staff than the Yankees. Despite pitching in a hitter-friendly park, the Rangers have a team ERA of 3.79. The Tigers? At Comerica? 4.04.
How good are the Rangers' starters? Well, they didn't even use their rookie starter Alexi Ogando, who absolutely dominated the Tigers during the regular season. The Rangers have arms to spare.
But this is the playoffs. As the Tigers proved in Game 5, anything is possible.
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