Detroit, MI- Rico Petrocelli hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning, and the Boston Red Sox completed their furious comeback to win the AL East with a 5-3 win over the Tigers at Tiger Stadium.
The Red Sox (89-65) have clinched the division after trailing by as many as 9.5 games as recently as in mid-August.
The Tigers (87-68) have lost five straight, all at home, and eight of their past 10. The loss means the Tigers are 13-21 in their past 34 games, a stretch where the Red Sox went 22-11 to steal the divisional flag.
Carl Yastrzemski hit a solo homer in the seventh to put Boston up, 1-0. It was just the second Red Sox hit off Tigers starter Woodie Fryman.
In the eighth inning, the Tigers scored three runs, capped by a pinch-hit, solo home run by Ike Brown. They were three outs away from making the season finale the division-deciding game.
But Boston tied the game in the ninth on a pinch-hit, two-run homer by Rick Miller off Chris Zachary, whose season had been brilliant up to that point.
The Tigers had runners on second and third with one out in the ninth. After an intentional walk to Willie Horton, the bases were loaded. But Boston reliever Bill Lee coaxed two outs without a runner scoring.
In the tenth, Petrocelli connected for a two-run blast off loser Zachary following a walk to open the inning.
After Wednesday's season ending game, the Red Sox will travel to Oakland to face the A's in the ALCS.
BOS 89-65 --
DET 87-68 2.5
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
Mon 10/2/72: Bos 5, DET 4
Detroit, MI- Doug Griffin hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, erasing a 3-2 deficit, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tigers, 5-4, to edge one step closer to clinching the AL East title.
With the victory, the Red Sox need to win just one of the final two games of the series (and season) to clinch the division. Meanwhile, the Tigers have no more margin for error; they need to sweep the next two games to claim the East.
The Tigers had moved ahead. 3-2, in the seventh inning on an Eddie Brinkman squeeze bunt that plated Aurelio Rodriguez. But Griffin, not a power hitter, drilled a Mickey Lolich fastball over the wall in left center field with two men on base for a 5-3 Red Sox lead.
Rodriguez hit a solo homer in the ninth, but it was too little, too late.
BOS 88-65 --
DET 87-67 1.5
With the victory, the Red Sox need to win just one of the final two games of the series (and season) to clinch the division. Meanwhile, the Tigers have no more margin for error; they need to sweep the next two games to claim the East.
The Tigers had moved ahead. 3-2, in the seventh inning on an Eddie Brinkman squeeze bunt that plated Aurelio Rodriguez. But Griffin, not a power hitter, drilled a Mickey Lolich fastball over the wall in left center field with two men on base for a 5-3 Red Sox lead.
Rodriguez hit a solo homer in the ninth, but it was too little, too late.
BOS 88-65 --
DET 87-67 1.5
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Update: Down to the Wire!
Well, just as in real life, my race between the Tigers and the Red Sox is going down to the wire. In real life, the Tigers and the Red Sox entered the final series of the season in Detroit with this scenario: whichever team won at least two of the three games would win the division.
With five games to play, my Tigers lead the Red Sox by a half game (87-64 to 86-64). The Red Sox have two games in Baltimore, and the Tigers host the Milwaukee Brewers twice. Then, it's those final three games in Detroit---Red Sox vs. Tigers!
No matter what happens in Baltimore and Detroit, the last three games at Tiger Stadium will determine the AL East winner---some how, some way.
How cool for my replay to come down to the final series, just as in real life!
Note: You'll notice that in my replay, the Red Sox are 86-64, whereas in real life they were 83-67. That's because I kept track of head-to-head play in my replay and adjusted the Red Sox record accordingly. In my replay, the Red Sox have beaten the Tigers three more times than they did in real life, up to this point.
With five games to play, my Tigers lead the Red Sox by a half game (87-64 to 86-64). The Red Sox have two games in Baltimore, and the Tigers host the Milwaukee Brewers twice. Then, it's those final three games in Detroit---Red Sox vs. Tigers!
No matter what happens in Baltimore and Detroit, the last three games at Tiger Stadium will determine the AL East winner---some how, some way.
How cool for my replay to come down to the final series, just as in real life!
Note: You'll notice that in my replay, the Red Sox are 86-64, whereas in real life they were 83-67. That's because I kept track of head-to-head play in my replay and adjusted the Red Sox record accordingly. In my replay, the Red Sox have beaten the Tigers three more times than they did in real life, up to this point.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Sun 9-24-72: Bos 3, DET 2
Boston, MA- Carlton Fisk led off the ninth inning with a solo homer, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tigers, 3-2 at Fenway Park.
The Tigers and Red Sox split the four-game weekend series, and Boston moved back to two games behind the Tigers for first place in the AL East.
The Red Sox took a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning with a rally that started with two outs and nobody on base. Reggie Smith doubled home Luis Aparicio.
But the Tigers (86-62) tied the game in the ninth inning on a Jim Northrup single, which plated Willie Horton, who smacked a pinch-hit double. The Tigers then loaded the bases, but couldn't score another run.
Fisk blasted the first pitch he saw from reliever Chuck Seelbach (3-5) over the Green Monster in left for the game winner for Boston (83-63).
The Tigers' magic number to clinch the division remained at seven.
******************************************************
DET 000 100 001 2-6-0
BOS 010 000 011* 3-9-0
*One out when winning run scored.
WP: Newhauser
LP: Seelbach (3-5)
HR: Fisk (BOS)
Tigers overall: 86-62
Home: 39-31
Away: 47-31
Last 10: 6-4
The Tigers and Red Sox split the four-game weekend series, and Boston moved back to two games behind the Tigers for first place in the AL East.
The Red Sox took a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning with a rally that started with two outs and nobody on base. Reggie Smith doubled home Luis Aparicio.
But the Tigers (86-62) tied the game in the ninth inning on a Jim Northrup single, which plated Willie Horton, who smacked a pinch-hit double. The Tigers then loaded the bases, but couldn't score another run.
Fisk blasted the first pitch he saw from reliever Chuck Seelbach (3-5) over the Green Monster in left for the game winner for Boston (83-63).
The Tigers' magic number to clinch the division remained at seven.
******************************************************
DET 000 100 001 2-6-0
BOS 010 000 011* 3-9-0
*One out when winning run scored.
WP: Newhauser
LP: Seelbach (3-5)
HR: Fisk (BOS)
Tigers overall: 86-62
Home: 39-31
Away: 47-31
Last 10: 6-4
Sat 9-23-72: DET 5, Bos 2
Boston, MA- The Tigers scored four runs in the sixth inning, erasing a 1-0 deficit, and went on to defeat the Boston Red Sox, 5-2, at Fenway Park.
The victory pushed the Tigers' lead in the AL East back up to three games over Boston.
Mickey Lolich (23-12) pitched his 22nd complete game, scattering nine hits, walking three and striking out four. Sonny Siebert started and took the loss for Boston.
Aurelio Rodriguez's two-run single was the key hit in Detroit's four-run sixth.
Al Kaline added a solo homer (9) in the seventh inning.
The Tigers (86-61) reduced their magic number to seven over Boston (82-63).
************************************************
DET 000 004 100 5-6-0
BOS 100 000 100 2-9-1
WP: Lolich (23-12)
LP: Siebert
HR: Kaline (DET; 9)
Tigers overall: 86-61
Home: 39-31
Away: 47-30
The victory pushed the Tigers' lead in the AL East back up to three games over Boston.
Mickey Lolich (23-12) pitched his 22nd complete game, scattering nine hits, walking three and striking out four. Sonny Siebert started and took the loss for Boston.
Aurelio Rodriguez's two-run single was the key hit in Detroit's four-run sixth.
Al Kaline added a solo homer (9) in the seventh inning.
The Tigers (86-61) reduced their magic number to seven over Boston (82-63).
************************************************
DET 000 004 100 5-6-0
BOS 100 000 100 2-9-1
WP: Lolich (23-12)
LP: Siebert
HR: Kaline (DET; 9)
Tigers overall: 86-61
Home: 39-31
Away: 47-30
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Fri 9-22-72: Bos 4, DET 3 (10 inn)
Boston, MA- Reggie Smith's double to deep left-center field scored Carl Yastrzemski from first base in the tenth inning, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tigers, 4-3, to square this big four-game weekend series.
The win drew the Red Sox (82-62) back to within two games of the Tigers (85-61).
The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the fourth inning, but the Red Sox scored single runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings to tie the game.
Tom Timmermann took the loss for the Tigers in relief. Bobby Bolin got the win for Boston.
********************************
Tigers overall: 85-61
Home: 39-31
Away: 46-30
Last 10: 6-4
The win drew the Red Sox (82-62) back to within two games of the Tigers (85-61).
The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the fourth inning, but the Red Sox scored single runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings to tie the game.
Tom Timmermann took the loss for the Tigers in relief. Bobby Bolin got the win for Boston.
********************************
Tigers overall: 85-61
Home: 39-31
Away: 46-30
Last 10: 6-4
Monday, September 23, 2013
Thu 9-21-72: DET 7, Bos 6
Boston, MA- In the first of a huge four-game series at Fenway Park with first place in the AL East on the line, the Tigers held on to beat the Boston Red Sox, 7-6, and in the process increased their lead over second place Boston to three games.
The Tigers scored four runs in the first inning and kept the Red Sox at bay, despite three Boston homers.
Carlton Fisk's two-run shot in the fourth inning made the score 4-2, but the Tigers answered with a Bill Freehan solo homer in the fifth. Luis Aparicio hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth, and the score was 5-3, Detroit.
An unearned run in the eighth by Detroit made the score 6-3, but in the bottom of the frame, Carl Yastrzemski slugged a two-run homer to bring the Red Sox within one run.
The Tigers (85-60) tacked on a run in the ninth, which was a good thing, because Boston scored a run in the bottom of the ninth as well.
Joe Coleman (20-11) picked up his 20th victory, relieved by Chris Zachary after eight innings.
Ray Culp took the loss for Boston (81-62), which committed three errors.
*************************************************************
DET 400 010 011 7-7-0
BOS 000 210 021 6-6-3
WP: Coleman (20-11)
SV: Zachary (7)
LP: Culp
HR: Freehan (DET; 19); Fisk (BOS); Aparicio (BOS); Yastrzemski (BOS)
Tigers overall: 85-60
Home: 39-31
Away: 46-29
Last 10: 6-4
The Tigers scored four runs in the first inning and kept the Red Sox at bay, despite three Boston homers.
Carlton Fisk's two-run shot in the fourth inning made the score 4-2, but the Tigers answered with a Bill Freehan solo homer in the fifth. Luis Aparicio hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth, and the score was 5-3, Detroit.
An unearned run in the eighth by Detroit made the score 6-3, but in the bottom of the frame, Carl Yastrzemski slugged a two-run homer to bring the Red Sox within one run.
The Tigers (85-60) tacked on a run in the ninth, which was a good thing, because Boston scored a run in the bottom of the ninth as well.
Joe Coleman (20-11) picked up his 20th victory, relieved by Chris Zachary after eight innings.
Ray Culp took the loss for Boston (81-62), which committed three errors.
*************************************************************
DET 400 010 011 7-7-0
BOS 000 210 021 6-6-3
WP: Coleman (20-11)
SV: Zachary (7)
LP: Culp
HR: Freehan (DET; 19); Fisk (BOS); Aparicio (BOS); Yastrzemski (BOS)
Tigers overall: 85-60
Home: 39-31
Away: 46-29
Last 10: 6-4
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