ALDS Game 5: Red Sox, Tigers advance to CS

Game 5 Recap: DET 3, OAK 0

The Detroit Tigers will be advancing to the American League Championship Series for the third consecutive year. Behind eight shutout innings from Justin Verlander (eleven strikeouts) and a two run bomb from Miguel Cabrera, it will be the Tigers playing the Red Sox in Boston on Saturday. They take this series 3-2 over the Oakland Athletics.

Game 4 Recap: BOS 3, TB 1

This game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth, when David DeJesus singled home a run. The Red Sox subsquently scored on a wild pitch, sacrifice fly, and an infield single, to give themselves the three unanswered runs to win this game. The Red Sox have been a great story over this past year, going from worst to first in the span of an offseason. Now, they will be advancing to the ALCS, as they beat the Rays 3-1 in this series.

Game 4 Recap: DET 8, OAK 6

Five runs in the final two innings sent Tigers fans home happy in Comerica Park, giving them a chance at game five, and a chance to take this "once lost" series. Behind six innings of three run ball from Doug Fister, and two innings of relief from Max Scherzer (who got the win), the Tigers were able to tie this series at two. Jhonny Peralta and Victor Martinez each homered, and Joquain Benoit closed it out, as the Tigers take this one, 8-6.

Game 3 Recap: TB 5, BOS 4

Jose Lobaton blasted a walk-off homer in the ninth off the Red Sox shutdown closer, Koji Uehara. The Rays erupted, and the Red Sox went home blowing a tie game in the ninth. They still have a commanding 2-1 series lead, however, and could easily come back and win tonight. But, even giving the Rays some life could lead to trouble. Evan Longoria also homered, to tie the game at three. Game four is tonight, and the Rays need to capitalize once again to stay alive.

Game 3 Recap: OAK 6, DET 3

The Tigers needed one win to brush off the shutout in game two and retake control of this series. The couldn't. Anibal Sanchez allowed three homers to Seth Smith, Josh Reddick, and Brandon Moss to send them to victory. Grant Balfour and Victor Martinez exchanged words in the ninth, which led to cleared benches, and a brawl. The A's take a 2-1 series lead, as game four will be played today. The Tigers seem to have lost all their life.

Game 2 Recap OAK 1, DET 0

The Athletics needed one hit to win this game. With runners on first and second, the Athletics sent Stephan Vogt to the plate. He delivered, walking the A's off to their first win in the best of five series. In a game where Justin Verlander (7 IP, 11 K) and Sonny Gray (8 IP, 9 K) combined for fifteen innings and twenty strikeouts, it all came down to one play. The Athletics tie up this series at one, giving them some breathing room compared to a two to nothing deficit. They play game three in Detroit on Monday. 

Game 2 Recap BOS 7, TB 4

The Boston Red Sox continued their offensive attack, bringing home seven runs behind two David Ortiz homers (first postseason multi-homer game). Those were his two hits of the game. David Price struggled through seven innings, allowing seven runs to cross home plate. His pitches were all over the heart of the plate, and Boston capitalized with nine hits off him. The Tampa Bay Rays must now proceed to go into "panic mode", as they are down 2-0 in a series with the team who had the best record in baseball. They get an off day today, and are back at it on Monday. 

Game 1 Recap: DET 3, OAK 2

Max Scherzer pitched like he had all season. Fantastic. Detroit's three run first proved to be the difference maker, as the Athletics were unable to catch up in Scherzer's seven strong innings. Miguel Cabrera and Alex Aliva had the RBI for the Tigers, as they piled up 10 hits against Bartolo Colon, who took the loss. A four out save by Joaquin Benoit concluded the victory for the Tigers, as they play Oakland again today at 9:00 PM ET. 

Game 1 Recap: BOS 12, TB 2

The Red Sox scored twelve unanswered runs. Twelve. Every hitter in their lineup had a hit with two outs in the fourth, as they absolutely crushed the Tampa Bay Rays 12-2. Behind a 7.2 strong innings from Jon Lester, the Red Sox were able to score, and score often. Four hitters in their lineup had multi-hit games, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia delivered the big blow with three RBI. Sean Rodriguez and Ben Zobrist each homered for Tampa Bay. They play again today at 5:30 PM ET. 

The American League Division Series looks to be a good one, as four good teams are squaring off to try and get one step closer to the World Series. Each team is different, which makes this DS potentially among the greatest in recent memory.

TB @ BOS:

The Tampa Bay Rays luck can only last so long. They play among one of the best teams in baseball in the Red Sox, as they look to continue on to the ALCS. In their way is one of baseball's most complete teams, and the team with the best record over the regular season. But, the Rays always turn it up in the postseason. We can expect a great series.

I expect the Red Sox to take this series in four games, just because the Rays have already played two elimination games without a home playoff game yet. They are getting tired, and now face a great team in the Red Sox. We'll see how they do, but I can't see them taking this series, especially since most the games will be in Boston.

DET @ OAK:

This series looks to be a great one, as two great pitching staffs face each other. The Detroit Tigers played very well in 2013, and look to continue that trend in the postseason. But they play a team in the Oakland A's that is built around stats and built around getting the most value for their money. Moneyball lives on, as they look to try to take this series against the Tigers.

I think the Tigers will take this series in five games, as I believe these teams are pretty balanced. The only advantage the Tigers have in my opinion is that their lineup is very star-studded, and that on "good" days, could destroy any other team's pitching staff. That's why I have to go with the Tigers in the ALDS.