Night by night, we are inching towards a rematch of the 2006 World Series between the Tigers and Cardinals. The Cardinals won in 2006, but the Tigers may be frontrunners this year simply based on how handily they’ve beaten a team that went 95-67 in the regular season. Last night, they closed out a sweep in Comerica Park in an amazing series where they never even trailed to New York. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are beating up on the Giants almost as easily, going up 3-1 in the series after a commanding 8-3 win last night.
Oct 18, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander celebrates on the field after game four of the 2012 ALCS against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park. The Tigers won 8-1 to sweep the series and advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The Yankees knew that their backs were against the wall last night and still were able to do nothing against a dominant Tigers team. The Tigers took single runs in the first and third innings after RBI singles by Delmon Young and Avisail Garcia. However, it would be in the fourth inning where the Tigers really did their damage– capitalizing on mistakes by Yankees’ ace C.C. Sabathia by knocking a pair of two-run homers by Miguel Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta. The Yankees got a run in the sixth on Nick Swisher’s double. However, the Tigers got that run right back on solo home runs in the eighth and ninth by Austin Jackson and Jhonny Peralta, respectively. Phil Coke was dominant in relief and the Detroit Tigers are going to the World Series!
In Game Four of the series between the Giants and Cardinals, St. Louis continues to batter the generally great starting pitching of the Giants. They started out of the bottom of the first with a single, walk, single, and sacrifice fly– netting them a pair of runs right out of the gate. The Giants got one back on a long ball by Hunter Pence in the top of the second. However, the Cardinals would get that back in the fifth as they benefited from a one out double by Matt Carpenter, then an RBI single for Matt Holliday and later, an RBI single for Yadier Molina to make it 4-1. A two-run double by Jon Jay in the sixth would extend the lead further. RBI singles by Yadier Molina and Pete Kozma in the seventh would push it to 8-1 in St. Louis. Pablo Sandoval’s ninth inning home run cut it to 8-3, but it still was a commanding Game Four win and the Cardinals are up 3-1.