2007 ALDS (Game 4)

The Detroit Tigers with their backs against the walls, down 7-4 in the late 6th, have force a Game 4 against the Los Angeles Angels, thanks primarily to Marcus Thames' excellent 3-for-4 game, with 2 doubles, HR & 4 RBI.

Unfortunately, for Thames, he would have to start the game on the bench, while the Tigers can field (a fielding one) with Brandon Inge playing third for starting pitcher Justin Verlander (who is the Tigers' only fielding 2 starter -- besides Kenny Rogers). So the Tigers will sacrifice offense (which they have plenty of) for some defense; Inge actually has had a productive series in two starts, batting 3-for-5 with a solo HR and walk.

GAME 4 - ALDS
Los Angeles (A) at Detroit

Verlander cruises in Game 4 with three-hitter.

Verlander (B-X / 16-8, 3.61 ERA & 208 K's) will face off against John Lackey (B-YZ / 3.01 ERA & 179 K's) in a rematch of Game 1; Lackey pitched outstanding in Game 1, allowing only 5 hits, 1 run & 2 walks in 7 innings of work (5 K's).

Bottom of the 1st - Curtis Granderson would lead off with a double. After Ryan Raburn flied out, Magglio Ordonez would single to right, to score in Granderson to draw first blood. After a Gary Sheffield single, the lineup stalls out, and strands two base-runners.

The Angels are unable to do anything for the first two innings. Sean Casey leads off the bottom of the 2nd, with a single. John Lackey would strike out Brandon Inge for the 1st out. Ivan Rodriguez hits a double, advancing Casey to third base. With two men on & one out, Curtis Granderson hits a ball into the left field corner, this is good for extra bases, the ball ricochets off the corner of the wall, and the Angels' Garret Anderson is scrambling for the ball -- both runners score, and Granderson pulls up with a triple. Tigers up 3-0 early. Ryan Raburn strikes out for out number two.

Lackey would walk Magglio Ordonez, and is performing on completely opposite performance from Game 1. With runners on 1st & 2nd, Gary Sheffield scores in Granderson on a RBI single to right. Placido Polanco would hit a two-run double to break the game open at 6-0; Polanco would end the inning by trying to steal second.

John Lackey only lasts 2 innings, allowing 8 hits, 6 runs (all earned) and a walk, on 3 strike outs. That was all the breathing room that Detroit starting pitcher Justin Verlander needed. Verlander would go on to a three-hit shutout of the Angels, and Curtis Granderson (adding a solo HR in the 6th) would fall short of the cycle (needing a single). Granderson entered the game, only 2-for-12, so he came through at a great time.

The Angels have not scored since the 6th inning of Game 3, basically since their bullpen meltdown in that game.

DETROIT TIGERS 8
LOS ANGELES ANGELS 0

The Tigers collected 13 hits; No errors for either team.