In the first of a five game series, the best of the American League Central took on the 2012 Detroit Tigers as Justin Verlander faced off against Minnesota Twins pitcher Carl Pavano. Needless to say, both pitchers were a bit off their game, but the shocker of the night was on how good the Tigers might be this coming season. Full recap after the jump, but before we go there, I want to make two things clear. 1. This is a exercise put together by me using rosters picked by SBNation user kjmick24 and 2. The Tigers are playing the best of the remaining teams in the AL Central with the team being managed by Minnesota Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire.

One bad inning, that is all it took for the Detroit Tigers to draw first blood against the rest of the American League Central. For the Tigers, that was the bottom of the 4th where the team batted around with the big blow coming from Left Fielder Delmon Young who hit a bases clearing double for three of the Tigers five runs in the inning. The trouble started innocently enough for Pavano when he gave up a home run to Brandon Inge to lead off the inning. However, he then got Miguel Cabrera to fly out and a struck out Ramon Santiago. In between, Don Kelly managed to beat Pavano and Royals 1st baseman Eric Hosmer to the bag on a routine ground ball. Kelly would later score on Alex Avila's line drive to right center. Austin Jackson then managed to get his only hit of the game reaching on a soft hit toward third setting up Young's heroics.

On the other side of the ball, it was all the work of Detroit pitching as Justin Verlander pitched eight solid innings for the win and allowing only three runs (one unearned) on seven hits and eight strikeouts. However, two of those three runs came via solo home runs by Hosmer and Twins CF Denard Span. The other run came in the second inning after White Sox slugger Paul Konerko reached second on a ball bobbled by Young. Konerko would later score on a single by Lonnie Chisenhall.

The AL Central had plenty of chances, but they were quickly squashed by double plays. The first inning proved prophetic for what was to come. After Span flied out to start the game, Asdrubal Cabrera then singled to right, however Twins catcher Joe Mauer then grounded into the first of four double plays on the night with the other three coming off the bat of Konerko including one in the 9th vs Phil Coke.

Studs

Justin Verlander: Eight Strikeouts in eight innings

Delmon Young: 3 for 4 with a run in the first off Prince Fielder's home run and three RBI's in the 4th.

AL Central Bullpen: 4 innings of work and only one hit allowed

Duds

Paul Konerko: Grounded into three double plays

Notes: Studs and Duds is an exercise done to highlight players that were important to the game in the mind of the recaper. Also, a full inning by inning recap follows after the schedule and lineups for game two.

Series Schedule

Game 1: Detroit won 7-3

Game 2: at Detroit on Friday

Game 3: at Target Field in Minneapolis on Saturday (Representative of the last two division champions)

Game 4: at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sunday

Game 5: at Detroit on Monday

Game 2 Lineups

AL Central:

1. Span, CF; 2. A. Cabrera, SS; 3. Mauer, DH; 4. Konerko, 1B; 5. Sizemore, LF; 6. Santana, C; 7. Choo, RF; 8. Chisenhall, 3B; 9. Kipnis, 2B; Pitcher: John Danks

Detroit:

1. Young, LF; 2. Boesch, CF; 3. Fielder, DH; 4. M. Cabrera, 1B; 5. Kelly, RF; 6. Inge, 3B; 7. Peralta, SS; 8. Santiago, 2B; 9. Avila, C; Pitcher: Max Scherzer

Game one Inning by Inning results

Top 1st
Justin Verlander enters the game to pitch for Detroit
-----------------------------------------
1. Span flies out to left
2. A. Cabrera hits a ground ball to right, Runner at 1st
3. Mauer grounds into a double play (6-4-3)

Bottom 1st
Carl Pavano Enters the game to pitch for AL Central
------------------------------------
1. A. Jackson strikes out
2. Young hits Ground Rule Double to Right-Center, Runner at 2nd
3. Fielder Hits a home Run to Left-Center, Young Scores
4. Inge Grounds out to 1st
5. Cabrera Flies out to right-Center

Top 2nd (4-5-6 for AL Central)
-------
4. Konerko slices a single down the left field line, Young bobbles

the ball and Konerko takes second on the error, Runner at second.
5. A. Gordon strikes out
6. Chisenhall hits a liner to center, Konerko scores, Runner at

1st.
7. Hosmer takes first on a fielder's choice, Chisenhall out at

second.
8. Choo flies out to left-center

Bottom 2nd (6-7-8 for Detroit)
----------
6. Kelly Strikes out
7. Peralta grounds out to short (6-3 putout)
8. Santiago fouls out to 1st

Top 3rd (9-1-2 for AL Central)
-------
9. Kipnis Strikes out
1. Span Grounds out to second (4-3 putout)
2. A. Cabrera flies out to right-center

Bottom 3rd (9-1-2 for Detroit)
----------
9. Avila grounds out to first (3-1 putout)
1. A. Jackson Strikes out
2. Young hits a double to right-center, Runner on 2nd
3. Fielder Lines out to third

Top 4th (3-4-5 for AL Central)
-------
3. Mauer Walks on 6 pitches, Runner at 1st
4. Konerko Grounds into a 3-6-1 Double Play
5. A. Gordon Flies out to Right center

Bottom 4th (4-5-6 for Detroit)
----------
4. Inge hits a line-drive home run toward left center.
5. M. Cabrera flies out to right center
6. Kelly hits a liner down the 1st base line, Hosmer fields it but

Kelly beats out the throw to Pavano by inches, Runner at 1st.
7. Peralta hits a Ground rule double to slightly left-center,

Runners at 2nd and 3rd.
8. Santiago Strikes out
9. Avila hits a liner toward right Center, Kelly Scores, Runners at

1st and 3rd.
1. A. Jackson reaches on a ground ball hit toward 3rd, Bases loaded
2. Young Hits a bases clearing double toward left Center, Runner at

2nd.
3. Fielder Flies out to Left

Top 5th (6-7-8 for AL Central)
-------
6. Chisenhall Strikes out
7. Hosmer Hits a home run toward Right Center
8. Choo Strikes out
9. Kipnis Strikes out

Bottom 5th (4-5-6 for Detroit)
Matt Thorton Enters the game to pitch for AL Central
----------------------------------------------------
4. Inge Strikes out
5. M. Cabrera flies out to left
6. Kelly Lines out to short (6-3 Put out)

Top 6th (1-2-3 for AL Central)
-------
1. Span grounds out at 2nd (4-3 Put out)
2. A. Cabrera hits a liner down the third base line (Fielded by 7)
3. Mauer singles to right center field, A. Cabrera to 2nd, Runners

at 1st and 2nd
4. Konerko grounds into a double play (4-6-3)

Bottom 6th (7-8-9 for Detroit)
----------
7. Peralta grounds out to short (6-3 play)
8. Santiago strikes out
9. Avila hits a line drive to center (fielded by 8), Runner at 1st
1. A. Jackson Lines out to Left (fielded by 7)

Top 7th (5-6-7 for AL Central)
-------
5. A. Gordon Strikes out
6. Chisenhall Lines out to short (6-3 put out)
7. Hosmer Flies out to right

Bottom 7th (2-3-4 for Detroit)
Johnathan Broxton enters the game to pitch for AL Central
---------------------------------------------------------
2. Young Flies out to Left center
3. Fielder is walked on 4 pitches, Runner at 1st
4. Inge Grounds into a double play (3-4-1)

Top 8th (8-9-1 for AL Central)
-------
8. Choo Strikes out
9. Kipnis Strikes out
1. Span hits a home run toward Right Center
2. A. Cabrera Lines out to short (6-3 Put out)

Bottom 8th (5-6-7 for Detroit)
Jesse Crain Enters the game to pitch for AL Central
---------------------------------------------------
5. M. Cabrera flies out to right center
6. Kelly Pops out to the catcher
7. Peralta grounds out to third (5-3 Put out)

Top 9th (3-4-5 for AL Central)
Phil Coke Enters the game to pitch for Detroit
----------------------------------------------
3. Mauer Hits a line drive toward right center (Fielded by 9),

Runner at 1st
4. Konerko Lines into a double play (4-6-3)
5. A. Gordon flies out to left