Tigers Force Game 6 with Win over Rangers, Series Headed back to Arlington

What an awesome series so far.

Justin Verlander did his best over seven-plus innings Thursday night to keep the Detroit Tigers in the game. Meanwhile, the offense was behind him all the way and extended the series with a 7-5 win over the Texas Rangers to cut the Texas lead to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and shift the contest back to Arlington.

The Tigers managed to use a little teamwork to hit for the cycle during the sixth inning. In order. Ryan Raburn got on base with the single, Miguel Cabrera took care of the double, Victor Martinez nailed the triple, and Delmon Young crushed a two-run shot (his second of the game) to cap the deal and give Detroit a 6-2 lead. History was made during this series once again, as it became the first natural cycle ever to happen in the postseason.

Speaking of records, Nelson Cruz and his Boomstick hit a ridiculous fifth home run of the series, becoming the fifth player in history to do so, in the top of the eighth to bring the Rangers within three. They added another run on a Michael Young base hit in the ninth to make it 7-5, but the Tigers held on for the victory, even without Jose Valverde to shut it down.

Phil Coke got the final five outs for his first career postseason save. Way to go, buddy.

The Rangers will get another shot at punching their ticket to the World Series for the second straight season in Game 6 Saturday night in Texas. Derek Holland and Max Scherzer, both of whom have failed to get a decision this postseason, will face each other at 8:05pm ET on FOX.

[Detroit Free Press]

Magglio Ordonez Out of Commission, Delmon Young Returns

Unfortunately for Magglio Ordonez, he will miss all the fun and excitement that comes with the rest of whatever playoffs lay ahead for his Detroit Tigers, whose outfielders are dropping like flies.

Ordonez fractured his right ankle some time during Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday, exiting in the top of the fifth inning when he drew a walk between rain delays before being replaced by a pinch-runner.

Nelson Cruz Busts Out His Boomstick, Rangers Beat Tigers in Game 1

After not one, but two rain delays added nearly two hours to the game Saturday night, the Texas Rangers came away with a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

David Murphy hit an RBI triple in the second inning and scored on an Ian Kinsler base hit to give the Rangers an early 2-0 lead before Nelson Cruz busted out his boomstick. The outfielder led off the fourth with a solo shot, taking Justin Verlander deep on an 0-2 fastball which turned out to be the deciding factor in his team's win. Good for Cruz too, cause he was in quite a slump so far throughout the postseason, sporting an .067 batting average entering the series.

Rangers starter C.J. Wilson had a rather rough outing, lasting just 4.2 innings. The lefty walked five and coughed up two runs, including one a wild pitch that scored a run between rain delays. However, the relief corps cleaned up the mess and stomped the Tigers' rally. Five Texas relievers combined for eight strikeouts, with only Neftali Feliz allowing a hit while getting clocked at 101 mph for his fourth postseason save.

I suppose Detroit's loss could be partly attributed to the absence of Delmon Young -- we swear that's an impostor -- who batted .316 with three homers against the New York Yankees in the ALDS before suffering an oblique injury during Game 5. The left fielder now has to watch the best-of-seven series from the bench.

Game 2 is set for Monday night at 4:19pm ET on FOX with Derek Holland starting for the Rangers against Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer. The contest was postponed a day since  there was a 60 percent chance of rain over the Arlington area just before Sunday's game time.

[SB Nation]

CC Sabathia Struggles in Game 3 Loss to Tigers, Yankees on Brink of Elimination

CC Sabathia was all over the place Monday night in his New York Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers, who now hold a 3-1 lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series.

The chubby left-hander, who could barely lob the ball to Russell Martin on an intentional walk, matched a postseason-worst with six walks. He literally could not find the strike zone... and he feels pretty bad about it:

"I put us in a bad spot... the next time I get the ball, I'll try to go out and try to help us win."

Too bad he might not get the chance until next season.

But it wasn't all CC's fault. Rafael Soriano, the $161 million man who was tagged with the loss, surrendered the go-ahead home run to Delmon Young in the seventh inning. Two innings later, Jose Valverde had Tigers fans sweating for the second straight game with the Yankees rallying in the ninth, but Derek Jeter failed miserably, striking out with two runners on for the final out.

Justin Verlander was pretty solid for Detroit, giving up four runs on six hits with three walks, but fanning a career postseason-best 11 batters. Hitting an incredible 101-mph on the gun into the eighth inning, the right-hander gained run support through second baseman Ramon Santiago, who went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. Meanwhile, Jhonny Peralta nailed an RBI double to tie it up in the sixth just before Sabathia's exit.

Now on the brink of elimination Tuesday night, the Yankees will look to A.J. Burnett, who sucked quite a bit this season, to shift the series back to New York and force a Game 5. Rick Porcello, a career 2-2 with a 5.56 ERA against the Bronx Bombers, will pitch Game 4 for Detroit at 8:30pm ET on TBS.

[Detroit Free Press]

Delmon Young Hits Homer in First Tigers At Bat

Former Minnesota Twins left fielder Delmon Young, who was traded to the Detroit Tigers Monday afternoon for a couple minor leaguers, had a pretty nice start to the career with his new team.

Hitting in the no. 3 spot, he jacked a first-inning solo shot off former teammate and friend Francisco Liriano. This, after going yard just four times with the Twins all season.

Get Well Soon Delmon Young

Just when the Minnesota Twins thought they were getting back on track and had shaken that nasty injury bug, another one bites the dust.

Delmon Young was carted off the field at Miller Park Saturday evening after clobbering the outfield fence in the fifth inning and spraining his ankle. X-rays taken at the ballpark came back negative, but he's expected to have an MRI when the Twins return to Minnesota on Monday.

Man With Four Balls Cannot Walk

Youngster Delmon Young gets a lesson in baseball from Twins legends.

Minnesota, Tampa Bay Warm Up the Hot Stove

The Minnesota Twins have finally given up some young pitching for decent hitting, sending Matt Garza to the Tampa Bay Rays in a six-player trade along with shortstop Jason Bartlett and bullpen prospect Eduardo Morlan for promising outfielder Delmon Young, middle infielder Brendan Harris and minor league outfielder Jason Pridie.

The 22-year-old Young, who didn't miss a game in 2007, was runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year and gives the Twins a much-needed boost to the outfield and batting order in the absence of Torii Hunter. Michael Cuddyer is expected to patrol right field, so Young will most likely take over in left so Jason Kubel can destroy all my hopes and dreams by becoming the primary DH. That is, unless Craig Monroe magically becomes a power-hitter.

Kubel hit 16 bombs and 65 RBIs last season and is incredibly injury-prone. Basically, he's the last guy to strike fear into the opposition. However, new GM Bill Smith says there's work to be done to solidify center field and third base, so the Twins aren't done making moves yet.

Top prospect Garza gives the Rays a solid starter behind Scott Kazmir and James Shields. He went 5-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 16 appearances -- 15 starts -- for the Twins after he was called up mid-season.

Bartlett, 28, batted .265 with five homers, 43 RBIs and 23 steals in 510 at-bats last season, making 26 errors at short. Harris hit .286 with 12 homers, 35 doubles and 59 RBIs in 521 at-bats in his first full season as a starter, spending time at both spots up the middle, making 11 errors.

All in all, this trade fires me up and has me brimming with speculative optimism for the winter meetings next week.

***See the Bat Girl Lego Reenactment HERE!

[ESPN]