Follow the score of the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers in by any chance you cannot watch or listen to Game 5 of what has been a very tense ALCS. Never mind yesterday's final score, the Red Sox had a chance to tie and apply pressure. Jim Leyland did not take anything for granted and shuffled his bullpen around anytime the Red Sox threatened. Did somebody say shuffling? There was plenty of that in Leyland's lineup too, but there will be no dancing today.
The Tigers lineup worked in Game 4. The lineup was broken in Game 3 so Leyland fixed it. They had managed only one run in series opener, so Game 3 proved to be the last straw for the savvy veteran manager. Other teams have struggled in the postseason, but their skippers have not done any major moves. The Los Angeles Dodgers did not score a run in over 10 innings and Don Mattingly did not do anything about it. The Dodgers went deep in their Game 5, saving their series.
In Game 4, the Tigers did not use the long ball to drive in their runs. Instead, they rallied. They took advantage of Red Sox miscues, really only have one successful inning; the bottom of the second, where they scored five runs. They only scored two more runs after that, which were huge because the Red Sox were seeing the ball well, they just had zero clutch hits.
Here is that new-look Tigers' lineup again.
Tigers Tweak
1. Torii Hunter RF
2. Miguel Cabrera 3B
3. Prince Fielder 1B
4. Victor Martinez DH
5. Jhonny Peralta LF
6. Omar Infante 2B
7. Alex Avila C
8. Austin Jackson CF
9. Jose Iglesias SS
P- Anibal Sanchez
It is Mr. No-Hit Through Six on the mound for the Tigers in Game 5. Will he successfully continue his streak against the Red Sox tonight? Jacoby Ellsbury has been seeing the ball really well, going 4-5 in Wednesday's game. More importantly, in relation to Tigers' hitting, will Jackson find a way to once again get on base and prevent striking out?
Rusty Red Sox
1. Jacoby Ellsbury CF
2. Shane Victorino RF
3. Dustin Pedroia 2B
4. David Ortiz DH
5. Mike Napoli 1B
6. Jonny Gomes LF
7. Stephen Drew SS
8. Xander Bogaerts 3B
9. David Ross C
P- Jon Lester
Three changes in this lineup, which looks very similar to Game 1's starters. Ross handles the plate as his chemistry with Jon Lester has been through the roof in recent starts. He has some pop, but rather than thinking about home runs, the Red Sox should just focus on not striking out.
The Red Sox had 12 hits in Game 4, but they could not get runs across the plate. Ellsbury was on base four times, yet, he only scored once. Napoli and Saltalamacchia each had two hits with a strikeout. The only starters to avoid the punch out were Ellsbury and Ortiz. Credit goes to Doug Fister who pitched confidentely in his start, but the Red Sox had a runner on in every inning except the eighth and they could not do anythign with it.