Doug Fister Hurls Tigers Past Rangers in ALCS Game 3

After dropping the first two games of the American League Championship Series in Arlington, the banged-up Detroit Tigers absolutely had to win Game 3, and Doug Fister gave them a chance to do that. It wasn't exactly a must-win situation, but only the Boston Red Sox have come back from a 3-0 deficit to force a Game 7. They managed to win the 2004 World Series that year, but it's not the recommended way of doing things.

The right-hander with a bad case of hat-head was about as cool as the other side of the pillow in the huge Game 3, pitching 7.1 solid innings Tuesday night where he allowed just two runs on seven hits to aid in his team's 5-2 victory over the Texas Rangers. Fister loves pitching at Comerica Park. He's an incredible 5-0 with an 1.23 ERA at home... pretty much unhittable.

Meanwhile, Rangers starter Colby Lewis suffered his very first postseason loss after entering the game with a career 4-0 record and 1.67 ERA in the playoffs. It was a good run.

Josh Hamilton drove in a first inning run to give Texas an early lead, but the Tigers tied it up on a Victor Martinez lead-off solo shot in the bottom of the fourth. The following inning, Miguel Cabrera said "Hold your horses, Rangers," when he hit an RBI double to the right field corner to give Detroit a 2-1 edge.

Jhonny Peralta nailed one into the Tigers bullpen in the sixth before Austin Jackson, who had three hits in the game after going 3-for-25 with 14 strikeouts over the first seven postseason contests, blooped a run-scoring single to center. Cabrera, who struggled through the first few innings, crushed a longball to left in the seventh to make it 5-1.

Nelson Cruz Does it Again, First Ever Walkoff Grand Slam in Postseason History

Are you joking me Nelson Cruz?

Just two innings after it appeared his wrist was shattered into a million pieces by a 92-mph Jose Valverde fastball in the ninth, the Texas Rangers outfielder took advantage of a second consecutive Ryan Perry slider to give his team a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven ALCS with a 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers in 11 innings.

What's more amazing than that? Not only did he go yard to tie it up at 3 runs-a piece in the seventh inning and kick opposing starter Max Scherzer off the hill, but his extra-inning, walkoff grand slam marked the first in the history of ever.

To clarify, it's only technically the first walkoff grand slam in MLB playoff history. Back in 1993, Robin Ventura hit one during the 1999 NLCS for the Mets, but he was so busy celebrating the victory, he failed to touch home plate and was credited with a Grand Slam Single. In his defense, however, his stupid teammates carried him off the field before he had a chance to score. (Details, Schmetails.) God, we went from talking about Ventura pretty much never to mentioning him like three times in a week. I'm sure we'll have a lot more to make fun of him for to talk about regarding his White Sox managing adventure in 2012.

Detroit Tigers Fend off New York Yankees to Even up ALDS

The Detroit Tigers held off the New York Yankees to tie up their American League Division Series on Sunday with a 5-3 win at Yankee Stadium, and are very much looking forward to heading back home to Detroit Monday night.

AL Batting Champion Miguel Cabrera smoked a two-run homer off Yankees starter Freddy Garcia in the first to give Max Scherzer an early lead before adding another RBI in the sixth along with Victor Martinez to make it 4-0. Scherzer actually pitched no-hit ball into the sixth before the Cano blooped one the opposite way into left field, but we totally forgave him for that.

About the time it started to rain again, Curtis Granderson hit a solo shot in the eighth off Joaquin Benoit, but Don Kelly answered with a home run of his own in the top of the ninth to bring the score to 5-1.

Things got a little crazy in the bottom of the ninth when Nick Swisher went yard and Andruw Jones added a sacrifice fly to bring the Yankees within two.  Tigers closer Jose Valverde then walked Granderson to put runners on first and second, but quickly recovered to retire the hot-hitting Cano and cap Detroit's victory to bring the series to Motor City for Game 3 Monday at 8:30pm ET on TBS.

Enjoy Tonight's 2010 MLB All-Star Game

The MLB All-Star game is still an exhibition, but it means more than any other All-Star game in any other sport. The winning league of tonight's 8pm ET game on FOX will gain home field advantage in the World Series. Kind of a big deal, as it has been since the game ended horribly in a 7-7 tie in 2002 at Miller Park.

Some changes to this year's contest include the adoption of the designated hitter, regardless of what league's ballpark is holding the event. This means pitchers won't have to worry about injuring themselves on a whiff and one more National League slugger gets a shot at making the roster.

Jose Valverde: Tough or Nuts?

Jose Valverde is either the gutsiest closer of all time, or the craziest one. I'm leaning toward the latter.

Coming into his 18th save situation of the year, the animated Houston Astros righty was nailed in the cheek by a Pedro Feliz liner on a 1-2 pitch in the ninth. Valverde immediately collapsed while Astros trainers examined his face and players gathered around, hoping against the worst.

Instead of heading to the bench for an ice pack like any normal person would do, Valverde hung in there to earn his NL-leading 15th save of the season. Seriously.

[MLB]

Dan Haren, Jose Valverde Have New Unis

The NL West champion Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Dan Haren from the Oakland Athletics Friday, trading closer Jose Valverde to the Houston Astros in two different moves surrounding 12 players.

Along with Haren, the A's shipped righty Connor Robertson to Arizona for six guys: left-handers Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland and Greg Smith; infielder Chris Carter; and outfielders Aaron Cunningham and Carlos Gonzalez.

The 27-year-old Haren, who was 15-9 with a 3.07 ERA last season, joins 2006 Cy Young award winner Brandon Webb in a rotation that hopes to see an older than dirt, but healthy Randy Johnson in 2008.

The highly-animated Valverde, who saved 47 games in 54 opportunities last year, will resume closer duties in Houston, replacing the inconsistent Brad Lidge, who was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies last month.

The D'Backs received reliever Chad Qualls, infielder Chris Burke and right-hander Juan Gutierrez from the Astros in return for the 2007 big league saves leader.

[MLB.com]

Last, But Certainly Not Least

Superstitious, charismatic and all-out boisterous are just three of the adjectives used to describe Arizona Diamondbacks closer and big league saves-leader, Jose Valverde.

I prefer to call him jolly, but he prefers "Big Papa." The 6'4", 254-pound righty is generally a pretty quiet guy off the field; it's the minute he busts out of the bullpen that his true colors shine.

He doesn't like it when people talk to him during the game -- this is the time he reserves for "getting [himself] ready inside." Every now and then, from about the fifth inning on, he'll stand up and swing his arms loose, in anticipation of a save situation.

Then, it's time. He heads to the mound and immediately acts on his first superstition, tossing the ball to the home plate ump and asking for a new one.

He pops some gum in his mouth -- this move is especially impertinent -- and chucks it toward the middle infield once he's done warming up. Then, he makes some sort of crazy hand gesture in the direction of second baseman Orlando Hudson, who replies the same. Why? No one knows... not even Valverde or Hudson.

Are we ready yet? Not quite. Rather than touch the rosin bag (God forbid, the previous pitcher has already touched it!) he grabs some dirt from the mound and rubs it into his upper thigh.

With every out, the giant finisher pumps his fist and/or belts outs a "Hell yeah!" at the top of his lungs, which seems to aggravate opposing batters. That means it's working.

Once he's saved the day, Valverde leaps into the air and pounds his chest like a wild animal in the Congo. It's awesome.

Back in May, he hoped he would reach 50 saves this season, and he's just about gotten his wish. Valverde (1-4, 2.83 ERA) has converted 45 of 52 save opportunities with 18 games left to play in the Baby Backs' season, doing it again last night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

He's struck out 72 over 60 innings, walking 24 with just 19 earned runs. He's eclipsed the club's all-time saves leader, Matt Mantei (74) already and has had a large hand in the Diamondbacks' quest to be the become the Best in the NL West, with a 3-game lead over the stumbling San Diego Padres.

[Sports Network] | [AZ Snakepit] | [Random Fandom]