These Tigers, Man…
The Detroit Tigers advanced to the American League Division Series with a 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series on Wednesday afternoon.
It gave the Tigers a 2-0 series sweep in the best of 3 Wild Card Series. It was the first series win for the Tigers in the postseason since they won the 2013 AL Division Series over the Oakland A's in five games.
This amazing run that the Tigers are on this season has galvanized the entire state of Michigan. This team was 39-48 on July 4th. And, counting the two-game sweep over Houston, they are 33-13 since early August.
And they're getting contributions from just about everybody right now. Parker Meadows, Jake Rogers, and Matt Vierling have gotten big hits. Will Vest has been lights out in the bullpen. Closer Jason Foley struggled in the Houston series, but has been very good most of the season.
And Andy Ibanez's game-winning double in the 8th inning that cleared the bases will join the Tigers pantheon of players with memorable moments in the postseason. You know about Jim Northrup, Kirk Gibson, and Magglio Ordonez's great moments at the plate. You can add Andy Ibanez (pictured above) to that list. That was special stuff.
Even though A.J. Hinch tried to lose the game by putting rookie Jackson Jobe in the game in the 7th inning of a 1-0 game (It was Jobe's 3rd Major League appearance...THIRD!!!), his offense bailed him out by scoring four runs to erase Hinch's mistake. A.J. still doesn't know how to run a Major League pitching staff, IMO.
However, Hinch has done a great job with the batting lineup. He has picked the right guys to pinch-hit in key situations. And he has loaded up his lineup with right-handed hitters against left-handed starters, and sent left-handers to the plate against right-handed pitchers. And he's guessed right as far as pinch-hitters go. The Houston series is a great example.
The next series won't be easy. They face the AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians, starting on Saturday afternoon in Cleveland. They have offense with Josh Naylor, Steven Kwan, and Jose Ramirez. And they have the best closer in the AL in Emmanuel Clase, who has been awesome this year.
But if the Tigers split the first two games in Cleveland, they have a chance to advance further. Both Game 3 & 4 of this series are sold out at Comerica Park. That will be a wild scene next week in Motown.
Grit just doesn't apply to the Detroit Lions, they apply to these Detroit Tigers as well.
Boy does it.