Clutch Hits Proving Elusive Thus Far
It's simple, really.
If the Tigers are to overcome the 2-0 lead the Texas Rangers have compiled in the American League Championship Series, they will have to start hitting with men on base. Especially in the first five innings, before the Rangers can get to what they believe is their all-world bullpen.
Detroit started Monday's game with a walk and a single, then made three straight outs with the runners moving up just one base, getting stranded on third and second.
In the series opener, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out, only to have Magglio Ordonez hit into a double play.
The first game was a 3-2 loss, the second a 7-3 loss that lasted 11 innings, 10 of them unproductive.
"It was a great two games that didn't go the right way," manager Jim Leyland said. "They earned it and we didn't quite get it done. We haven't been able to come up with any big hits. That's being honest."
The Tigers stranded six runners over the first three innings and 13 in all 11. They left five runners on in the first two innings of the first game and 10 overall.
"I don't feel as good as Texas does right now, obviously," Leyland said. "They've got to win two more and we've got to win four. That's pretty simple math.
"We haven't been able to get the big hit. We've had our opportunities. The first inning in both games, in my opinion, have really come back to haunt us a little bit. We didn't score when we had a great opportunity in both games. They did score. They came right back and did score."
Texas' bullpen has barely allowed a hit, let alone a run, despite entering in the fifth inning in the opener and the third inning of the second.
"We've dealt with adversity all year long," said Don Kelly. "It's not going to change now. It's going to be good to get back home. Ideally would have been nice to get back with a split or up 2-0."
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