Alright, the Fox announcers made a big deal about this, but the Tigers became the ninth team in league championship history to win their first two games on the road.  The other eight all went on to win their series, so things are definitely looking good for Detroit.

What a game by Alexis Gomez.  I immediately questioned why Leyland would throw him in there, and then of course he started driving in runs.  He hit a two run seeing eye single in the fourth and then a he hit a huge two run homerun in the sixth inning.

The other questionable hitter in the lineup was Neifi Perez.  He was the only Tiger who didn’t reach base last night.  It was a big fat nothing.

Justin Verlander was off his game yesterday but he still picked up the win.  Wil Ledezma looked very good until he gave up a one run bomb to Milton Bradley and Fernando Rodney struck out the side in the eighth.  I’m not sure why Leyland went to Rodney and not to Joel Zumaya.  Maybe it had to do with the three run lead and he didn’t want to waste Zumaya and maybe it was that he wanted to get another player in there who hadn’t had much time in either of the series.

Todd Jones made things interesting in the ninth.  He struck out the first two batters then loaded up the bases on three straight singles.  He got Frank Thomas to fly out to Curtis Granderson though and that wrapped this one up with an 8-5 final.

The two teams have the day off today and tomorrow night it’ll be Rich Harden vs. Kenny Rogers in what’s expected to be some pretty cold conditions.  It’d be nice wrap this one up early and watch the Cardinals and Mets battle it out to see who comes to Comerica Park for game one of the World Series.  I have a feeling the A’s won’t be accomodating though.

Permalink | Posted in 2006 American League Championship Series (ALCS)