SB Nation Detroit - Tigers Sweep Indians, Finish 2011 Season With 95 Winshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48919/detroit-fave.png2011-09-28T22:25:16-04:00http://detroit.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22154132011-09-28T22:25:16-04:002011-09-28T22:25:16-04:00Tigers Down Indians In Regular Season Finale, 5-4
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<p>Detroit, MI (<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/72601/recap?article_id=165377">Sports Network</a>) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/87/jhonny-peralta">Jhonny Peralta</a> launched a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning to propel the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/detroit-tigers">Detroit Tigers</a> over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/cleveland-indians">Cleveland Indians</a>, 5-4, to close out the regular season for both teams.</p>
<p>The Tigers remain one game back of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/texas-rangers">Texas Rangers</a> in the race for the No. 2 seed in the American League playoffs. If the Rangers lose to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/los-angeles-angels">Angels</a> on Wednesday, the Tigers would get the second seed.</p>
<p>Ryan Perry (2-0) came on in the top of the eighth with a 4-3 lead and allowed the game-tying run to score, but still picked up the win for the Tigers, who finished the season 95-67. They won their last four contests and five of six to close the year.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/587/jose-valverde">Jose Valverde</a> finished the regular season 49-for-49 in saves as he closed the door in the ninth.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/122650/vinnie-pestano">Vinnie Pestano</a> (1-2) gave up the go-ahead homer to Peralta to absorb the loss for the Indians, who concluded the year with a 80-82 mark. They finished the season with four straight losses.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/9/28/2456987/tigers-indians-score-recapSean Yuille2011-09-28T18:58:43-04:002011-09-28T18:58:43-04:00Rick Porcello Takes The Ball In Tigers' Regular Season Finale
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<p>(<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/72601/preview?article_id=165305">Sports Network</a>) – The Detroit Tigers try to wrap up their regular season with a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians this evening at Comerica Park.</p>
<p>The Tigers will open the American League Division Series on Friday, but who they play is still to be determined. Detroit sits a game back of the Texas Rangers for the second seed in the American League behind the New York Yankees. Should they be in that position at the end of action tonight they would play the Yankees in the Bronx on Friday. However, a win and a Rangers loss in Anaheim tonight would give the Tigers home-field advantage against either Boston or Tampa Bay.</p>
<p>Detroit continued to roll towards the postseason on Tuesday, as Delmon Young had three hits, including a homer, and knocked in three runs to power the Tigers to a 9-6 win.</p>
<p>Detroit had 18 hits in a 14-0 win on Monday. One night later, the Tigers pounded out 12 hits to support Max Scherzer in his 15th win of the season.</p>
<p>Magglio Ordonez knocked in three runs and Wilson Betemit and Miguel Cabrera went deep for Detroit, which has won nine straight against Cleveland.</p>
<p>“We’re in a good position right now,” said Cabrera, who is riding an eight- game hitting streak and leads the majors with a .343 average. “They way we’re playing, I think we can say we’re ready for the playoffs.”</p>
<p>Scherzer (15-9) gave up seven hits and four runs over 5 2/3 innings. Jose Valverde closed the door in the ninth, moving to 48-of-48 in save opportunities this season for the AL Central champions.</p>
<p>“I’m definitely ready,” Scherzer said of the playoffs. “I like where I’m at physically. I made sure I wanted to be extended today because the past two times I’ve been cut short. I wanted to make sure I was extended into the 110- count pitch-type range.”</p>
<p>Jason Donald had a two-run single in the sixth inning for the Indians, who have lost three in a row overall.</p>
<p>Jeanmar Gomez (5-3) was charged with 10 hits and eight runs over 4 2/3 frames.</p>
<p>Getting the call for the Tigers tonight will be Rick Porcello, who is 14-9 with a 4.76 earned run average. Porcello will likely be called upon should the Tigers need a fourth starter in the <span class="caps">ALDS</span>.</p>
<p>He is 5-1 lifetime versus the Indians with a 3.60 <span class="caps">ERA</span>.</p>
<p>Cleveland, meanwhile, will counter with young righty Zach McCallister, who is 0-1 in three starts with an 8.53 <span class="caps">ERA</span>. This will be his first-ever start against the Tigers.</p>
<p>If Detroit wins Wednesday’s season finale, the club will match a franchise record for most consecutive wins over Cleveland (Sept. 1, 2009-May 8, 2010).</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/9/28/2456621/rick-porcello-takes-the-ball-in-tigers-regular-season-finaleIan Casselberry2011-09-27T23:28:28-04:002011-09-27T23:28:28-04:00Tigers Win Ninth Straight Over Indians With 9-6 Victory
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<p>Detroit, MI (<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/72600/recap?article_id=165169">Sports Network</a>) – Delmon Young had three hits, including a homer and knocked in three, as the Tigers used another big offensive showing to down Cleveland, 9-6, at Comerica Park.</p>
<p>Detroit had 18 hits in a 14-0 win on Monday. One night later, the Tigers pounded out 12 hits to support Max Scherzer in his 15th win of the season.</p>
<p>Magglio Ordonez knocked in three runs and Wilson Betemit and Miguel Cabrera went deep for Detroit, which is a half-game behind Texas for the second-best mark in the American League and home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Rangers are playing in Anaheim tonight.</p>
<p>Scherzer (15-9) gave up seven hits and four runs over 5 2/3 innings. Jose Valverde closer the door in the ninth, moving to 48-of-48 in save opportunities this season for the AL Central champions.</p>
<p>Jason Donald had a two-run single in the sixth inning for the Indians, who have lost three in a row overall and nine straight to the Tigers.</p>
<p>Jeanmar Gomez (5-3) was charged with 10 hits and eight runs over 4 2/3 frames.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/9/27/2454899/tigers-win-ninth-straight-over-indians-with-9-6-victoryIan Casselberry2011-09-26T23:18:48-04:002011-09-26T23:18:48-04:00Eight-Run Eighth Inning Fuels Tigers' 14-0 Rout Of Indians
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<p>Detroit, MI (<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/72599/recap?article_id=165053">Sports Network</a>) – Delmon Young’s three-run home run was part of an eight-run eighth inning as the Detroit Tigers dominated the Cleveland Indians, 14-0, in the opener of a season-ending series.</p>
<p>The AL Central-champion Tigers are still fighting for positioning in the upcoming playoffs and coming into Monday’s action the team was a game behind Texas for the second spot, which is for home field advantage in the first round.</p>
<p>Alex Avila and Andy Dirks each drove in three runs while Ryan Raburn brought home two for the Tigers, who have won three of four.</p>
<p>Doug Fister (11-13) went eight innings to win his fifth straight game and seventh consecutive decision. He gave up just three hits and struck out nine.</p>
<p>Ubaldo Jimenez (4-4) was tagged for six runs on nine hits over just five innings for the Indians, who need to win one more to guarantee at least a .500 season.</p>
<p>Raburn tripled home Avila in the second inning for the only run Detroit needed.</p>
<p>Miguel Cabrera brought home one more in the third with a single while Avila hit a two-run double later in the frame for a 4-0 lead.</p>
<p>Fister set down the first 11 batters he faced until Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-out single in the fourth.</p>
<p>Victor Martinez and Avila each brought home a run in the fifth with a double and single, respectively.</p>
<p>The Tigers exploded in the eighth inning. Dirks scored one with an <span class="caps">RBI</span> single and Don Kelly later drove home a run. Young then blasted a shot over the left field wall with two on base. Raburn hit a run-scoring single and Dirks added a two-run double in the frame for a 14-0 lead.</p>
<p>Detroit has won 10 of the 15 games against Cleveland this season…It was not the highest margin of victory this season for Detroit as the team beat the White Sox, 18-2, on September 4. However, it was the largest defeat of the season for the Indians.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/9/26/2451929/eight-run-eighth-inning-fuels-tigers-14-0-rout-of-indiansIan Casselberry2011-09-26T18:50:07-04:002011-09-26T18:50:07-04:00Tigers Take On Indians In Final Series Of Regular Season
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<p>For more on the Tigers, check out <a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com">Bless You Boys</a>.</p> <p>(<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/72599/preview?article_id=164996">Sports Network</a>) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/78455/doug-fister">Doug Fister</a> makes his final start this season before the playoffs when the American League Central champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/detroit-tigers">Detroit Tigers</a> open a three-game set with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/cleveland-indians">Cleveland Indians</a> at Comerica Park.</p>
<p>Fister may have been the best acquisition at the trade deadline, as he has gone 7-1 with a 2.02 earned run average in 10 games (nine starts) since being picked up from Seattle. He has been even better of late, posting a 5-0 mark with a 0.81 ERA in his last six starts, thus earning himself the Game 2 start in the ALDS next Saturday.</p>
<p>The right-hander has faced the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> seven times and is 2-2 against them with a 2.74 ERA.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> enter this series one game back of the AL West champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/texas-rangers">Texas Rangers</a> in the race for the second seed in the AL playoffs and more importantly, home-field advantage in the first round. Detroit also holds a tie-breaker advantage on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a>.</p>
<p>"Anywhere we have to go, it's still a ballpark," Tigers catcher <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/85/victor-martinez">Victor Martinez</a> said. "It doesn't matter. Definitely, it's nice to start at home, but if we don't, it's not the end of the world."</p>
<p>The Tigers could move up in that race this week, though, as they have won seven straight against the Indians after losing six of the first eight meetings between the rivals this season.</p>
<p>Cleveland continued to play out the string this weekend, taking three of four from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/minnesota-twins">Minnesota Twins</a>, but was denied a sweep, dropping a 6-4 decision to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a> in 10 innings on Sunday.</p>
<p>In possibly his final game in Cleveland, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/157/jim-thome">Jim Thome</a> pinch-hit in the eighth inning and drew a walk. He then stayed out to play third base, where be began his career, for one pitch in the ninth inning.</p>
<p>"I wasn't surprised at all," said Thome. "I just thought it was a nice gesture from him (Cleveland manager Manny Acta) and it felt good to be there, even if it was just for a little bit."</p>
<p>Tonight, the Indians turn to righty <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/537/ubaldo-jimenez">Ubaldo Jimenez</a>, who did not have the same impact upon being acquired at the deadline as Fister did with the Tigers. Jimenez fell to 4-3 since coming over from Colorado on Wednesday against Chicago, as he allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings to raise his ERA to 4.62 since the trade.</p>
<p>Overall on the year he is 10-12 with a 4.52 ERA.</p>
<p>He is 2-4 in six starts against the Tigers with a 5.50 ERA.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-tigers/2011/9/26/2451363/detroit-tigers-cleveland-indians-previewSean Yuille