2012 ALDS Playoffs Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics

American League Central Division Champs start playoffs vs. the A's

    Additional Reporting by
    icon Oct 07, 2012
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The 2012 American League Playoffs began at Comerica Park on Saturday September 6, 2012 against the Western Division Champs Oakland Athletics.   The first two games of the best of five playoff would be held at Comerica Park.  Under some cool conditions and cloudy skies the hunt for the World Series title began.  The Tigers would open with their ace pitcher Justin Verlander the defending A.L. Cy Young and MVP winner from 2011.

The two time defending Central Division Champions would see Verlander give up a homerun to the opening batter Coco Crisp and then shut down the Athletics after that.  Verlander would pitch 7 strong innings and record 11 strikeouts.  Alex Avilla would pace the Tigers with a homerun that would prove to the be the game winner.  

MLB Playoffs at Comerica Park remind one of Opening Day each and ever year.   The excitement starts to build around the ballpark several hours before the game.  The fans arrive early to tailgate or eat and drink in one of the many area diners.  You see fans that you don't see all season long but now want to be part of the excitement. 

Game One of the American League Divisional Series would be won by the Detroit Tigers 3-1 in what I call a solid game.  The pitching settled down early and seen the star hitters shut out on this day.  With a 6:07p.m. start with 49 degrees and an 10mph wind blowing made things get cold very quick.   A sold out crowd of over 43,000 fans braved the game until the very end.  

MLB then forced a quick turn around for national television with the Tigers/A's then playing at 12:07 on Sunday.   The fans were greeted by sunny skies and high 40's temperature at gametime.   Doug Fister would start for the Tigers and gave up an early run to the Athletics and then shut them down through 7 innings.   He would leave with the lead and 8 strikeouts.  

The teams would trade runs and go into the bottom of the 9th inning tied at 4-4.  It would only seem fitting that the eventual League MVP Miguel Cabrera would be involved in the classic ending of the game.   Omar Infante would single after Austin Jackson lead off the 9th inning with a strikeout.  Miguel Cabrera would bloop a single to send Infante to third base to give him his third hit of the day.   An intentional walk to the dangerous Prince Fielder set the stage for Don Kelly.  With the bases loaded Kelly would loft the second pitch to deep right center field to drive in Omar Infante with the game winning run for a 5-4 victory.  The Tigers mobbed Kelly and sent the sell out crowd home very happy.   The Tigers will now head to Oakland for the final 3 games of the best of 5 series needing only one more win to advance to the American League Championship Series.

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