warum » Michael Collins in Pittsburgh

DETROIT – Thanks to the Tigers 7-3 victory in Game 4, this series is guaranteed to return to Fenway Park on Saturday night. As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result. While much has been made of Jim Leylands decision to demote Austin Jackson from the lead off spot - Jackson had two hits and a walk hitting eighth in Game 4 - the fact that Red Sox starter Jake Peavy lost the strike zone in the second inning, when the Tigers scored five runs to ice the game early, was the biggest factor of the night. As the curtain closes on the Comerica Park portion of this series, we revert back to the Game 1 pitching matchup. Game 5 Preview PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox: LHP Jon Lester (Regular season: 12-5, 4.17, 1.147 WHIP; Playoffs: 0-0, 1.59, 0.882 WHIP in 5.2IP) 2013 Regular Season vs. Detroit: 2 GS – 2-0, 12.2IP, 4.26, 1.579 WHIP. Game 1 vs. Detroit: L, 6.1 IP, 1 ER (1.42 ERA,) 6 H, 1 BB, 4K, 1.105 WHIP. Jhonny Peralta, who had three hits in Game 1 and was the only Tiger with a multi-hit game, went 2-3 off Lester with a double and an RBI single. That single, in the sixth inning, scored Miguel Cabrera with the only run of the game in Detroits 1-0 win. Possible Argument: Despite the fact his counterpart Anibal Sanchez didnt allow a hit over six innings in Game 1, Lester was essentially as good as his mound opponent. Lester worked out of a two out, first inning jam stranding runners at the corners following two singles. A one out single in the third was erased on a double play and, thanks to some strong defensive play, he worked out of a fifth inning jam started by a lead off double. Sure, Lester got burned in the sixth but he was generally efficient in Game 1 and theres no reason to believe he cant be Sanchezs match, or better, in Game 5. Tigers: RHP Anibal Sanchez (Regular season: 14-9, 3.67, 1.308 WHIP; Playoffs: 0-0, 4.50, 1.333 WHIP in 6IP) Didnt face Boston in the 2013 regular season. Game 1 vs. Boston: 6 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 6 BB, 12 K, 1.000 WHIP. Clearly nobody hit Sanchez well in Game 1 because nobody hit him at all. Dustin Pedroia did draw two of Sanchezs six walks. Multiple-time Sanchez strikeout victims included: Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino, David Ortiz, Mike Napoli, Daniel Nava, and Stephen Drew. It would have been quicker to jot down who didnt strikeout at least twice versus Sanchez. Interesting Note: The Tigers pitching staff has combined for at least 10 strikeouts in each game of this series. LINEUP CONSIDERATIONS: Its hard to imagine Leyland going away from what worked in Game 4 so expect to see Torii Hunter back in the lead off spot, Miguel Cabrera batting second, Prince Fielder hitting third and Austin Jackson much further down in the order. “I was laying on my couch at home (Tuesday) night watching the Dodgers and the Cardinals, and I kept thinking, because I didnt disagree with anybody saying we needed something,” said Leyland of his lineup tinkering. “I felt like fans, members of the media, myself, probably the players, if the truth be known, I think something had to be done. “I dont want to say this had anything to do with it. Jackson went 2-2 with two walks in the eight-hole in Game 4. Entering the game, hed been 3-33 (.091) with 18 strikeouts in the postseason. Red Sox manager John Farrell is getting next to no production from the left side of his infield. Shortstop Stephen Drew is 3-28 (.107) in the postseason. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks is 4-23 (.174.) On the possibility of replacing Middlebrooks with rookie Xander Bogaerts in Game 5, Farrell offered this: “Havent made a decision on (Thursdays) lineup but given the way the left side of the infield, were struggling a little bit to get production out of that side. So its something thats being considered for sure.” Game 5 Prediction: Im one-for-four picking the correct winner of each game so this has become, effectively, a pointless exercise. To the point, in fact, where I feel I should be apologizing to the team I pick to win. Nonetheless, a commitment was made in Game 1 to make a prediction for each game and Im going to see it through. At the heart of this series is starting pitching and Detroits has been better than Bostons. Sanchez runs up his pitch count striking out the Red Sox and doesnt go beyond seven innings. Lester is equal to the task and this game is decided by the bullpens. So, I pick Boston to win this game 4-3. 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China Jerseys Stitched . -- Wichita State is all alone in the record book.SAN FRANCISCO -- Cody Asche took one look at the starting lineup and felt his confidence grow. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg challenged him, and that was enough. Asche hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to tie the game and then started the decisive rally with a double to open the 10th as Philadelphia rallied to beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Friday night. "He saw something in me that made him want to put me in," Asche said. "I was confident just by the fact I was in there." Chase Utley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 10th and Ryan Howard followed with a sacrifice fly against Javier Lopez, snapping the Phillies three-game losing streak. Sandberg gave Andres Blanco the day off and went with Asche against Madison Bumgarner. "If you want a chance to become a regular player, you have to face lefties," Sandberg said. Asche connected against Jeremy Affeldt, who allowed his first home run this season, and doubled off Santiago Casilla (1-3) to set the stage for the winning rally. Ken Giles (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings, and Jonathan Papelbon worked the 10th for his 28th save in 31 chances. Bumgarner threw seven strong innings for his first quality start at home since June 10, a span of seven games. He allowed one run and four hits, striking out nine without a walk. "It was nice to pitch a good game at home," Bumgarner said. "Its been forever." Cole Hamels also delivered a quality start for Philadelphia, giving up three runs and nine hits over seven innings. He walked two and struck out five. Pablo Sandoval had three hits, but the Giants lost their sixth in seven games. Bumgarner retired the first 10 hitters he faced, five on strikeouts, before allowing back-to-back hits by Jimmy Rollins and Utley. Hamels let the leadoff hitter reach base in five innings and had baserunners every inning.dddddddddddd He was able to avoid trouble with the exception of the fourth. Buster Posey led off with a single and Sandoval hit a ground-rule double ahead of Michael Morses first home run in August, a three-run drive into the left-field seats. Marlon Byrd countered with his 23rd homer leading off the fifth. TRAINERS ROOM Phillies: OF John Mayberry Jr. continues to deal with inflammation in his left wrist. His recovery has been interrupted by minor setbacks following workouts. Giants: 1B Brandon Belt will get another opinion on his concussion when the Giants visit Chicago next week. Belt will see concussion specialist Michael Collins in Pittsburgh. UP NEXT Phillies: RHP Kyle Kendrick (5-11, 4.88 ERA) takes the mound Saturday afternoon. He is 1-3 in his past six starts and has an ERA of 6.98 over his last seven. Giants: RHP Tim Hudson (8-9, 2.81) pitches Saturday. The Giants have lost seven of his last 10 starts. Hudson has started 30 games against the Phillies and is 11-10 with a 3.60 ERA against them. BYRD IS THE WORD Giants third base coach Tim Flannery sent Sandoval home with two outs in the eighth on Joe Paniks single to right. Byrds throw to Carlos Ruiz was there in plenty of time, keeping the game tied. "Defence always comes first," Byrd said. "Im not always going to hit, and I take pride in my defence." Byrd also ran down Morses 400-foot fly in the second to the roomy area of the ballpark known as Triples Alley. COOL LIKE CARLTON Hamels had his streak of pitching at least seven innings and allowing no more than one earned run stopped at five games, one shy of matching the franchise record. Steve Carlton was the last Phillies pitcher to do it, in 1972. Grover Cleveland Alexander (1916) and Elmer Jacobs (1918) also accomplished the feat. ' ' '