ALCS Game 2: Max Scherzer Dominates But Tigers Blow Lead, Lose 6-5
By Tony Fischer
Oct 13, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Jonny Gomes (5) scores the winning run in the 9th inning against the Detroit Tigers in game two of the American League Championship Series baseball game at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Max Scherzer was dealing during ALCS Game 2, throwing a career postseason high 13 strikeouts in 7 innings. Mad Max had a no-hitter going through the 5th inning before Dustin Pedoria broke it up with an RBI double. In fact Max Scherzers 5 no-hit innings made the Tigers the first team in post season history to accomplish the feat for three consecutive postseason games. Conversely, the Boston Red Sox became the first team to be no-hit through 5 innings for two consecutive games.
In short the Tigers starting pitchers are performing at historic levels. Not just franchise history but MLB history. It is even more impressive considering Boston has one of the league’s top line-ups.
But the tonight the pitching dominance would end when Max Scherzer left the game at the end of the seventh inning.
In the ninth inning the Red Sox bats woke up like a storm blowing in over the cape.
Jose Veras entered the game in the eighth and got a strike out but gave up a double. Drew Symly came into the game and gave up a walk. Then Al Alberquerque entered got a strikeout but gave up a base hit.
That loaded the bases for David Ortiz and Jim Leyland went to the bullpen to fecth his closer Joaquin Benoit. Benoit had success with keeping Big Papi in the ball park.
That is until tonight.
On Benoit’s first pitch David Ortiz planted a grand slam home run into the Boston bullpen to tie the game. The grand slam was the first to be hit in postseason history in the eighth innings or later.
See The Ortiz Home Run By Clicking Here
Then in the bottom of the ninth with Rick Porcello pitching, Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in the winning run to walk-off with Game 2 of the ALCS. The final score Boston 6, Detroit 5.
The Tigers wasted an excellent performance the inlcuded home runs by Alex Avilia (1 HR, 3RBI) and Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera homered in the sixth inning to start a 4 run scoring frenzy. It what looked would be a 2 game lead with the Tigers in the driver’s seat ended up tied.
The Tigers will lick their wounds and return to Detroit for Game 3 on Tuesday afternoon from Comerica Park. The team will look to Justin Verlander to regain the lead in the series.