Detroit Tigers at AL Central in Minneapolis, Game 4 Recap

In the dictionary, Atone means the following:

1. to make amends or reparation, as for an offense or a crime, or

2. to make up, as for errors or deficiencies.

After the Jump, see which player did exactly that.

For the most part, the grudge match between the AL Central and the Detroit Tigers had bordered between lopsided defeats and pitching duels. To that end, Game four figured to be another pitching duel and both starters didn't disappoint. In fact, the pitching lines between Detroit's Rick Porcello and Cleveland's Justin Masterson are matched stat for stat at six innings pitched a piece with two earned runs, one walk, and five strikeouts. The only none matched stat were the hits where Porcello gave up four and Masterson gave up six.

The scoring started right away as AL Central manager Ron Gardenhire used "The Twins Way," that won six division titles in the last decade, to score centerfielder Denard Span for the first run of the game. First Eric Hosmer sacrificed himself in order to get Span to second. This was followed by a Joe Mauer flyout to Don Kelly in left field. Span would then score on a single from White Sox 1st baseman Paul Konerko.

The Tigers responded in the top of the third when Prince Fielder's double down the left field line scored Gerald Laird from third to tie the game at one run a piece. Kelly's dribbler down the third base line was quickly snatched up by 3rd baseman Lonnie Chisenhall and resulted in Young being thrown out at the plate.

It would stay that way until the top of the sixth inning when Prince Fielder led off the inning and hit his third home run of the series. It was a bomb toward right center field. Konerko answered in the 7th by hitting a lead-off home run of his own and officially chased Porcello from the game. Collin Balester would enter and would perform a feat matched by both Phil Coke and Jose Valverde would do and that was tossing a perfect inning with one strikeout.

That wasn't the case for the AL Central's Jesse Crain though. He pitched the 8th for the division and allowed a lead-off hit to Centerfielder Austin Jackson. Delmon Young then deposited the next pitch just beyond the center field fence for the game winning home run and sending the series back to Detroit knotted at two games a piece.

Studs

Delmon Young with the game winning home run

Prince Fielder with the third home run in four games.

Collin Balester, Phil Coke, and Jose Valverde for pitching a perfect inning each with Valverde getting the save.

Duds

Cleveland Indians players for not getting a hit.

Jesse Crain: Gives up home runs at Target Field (As a Twins fan, I hope he gives up a walk-off homer to Joe Mauer.)

Don Kelly: 0/4 on the day and ended a rally in the first.

Schedule and Results

Thursday: Detroit 7-3 in Detroit

Friday: AL Central 9-1 in Detroit

Saturday: AL Central 1-0 in Minneapolis

Sunday: Detroit 4-2 in Minneapolis

Monday: AL Central at Detroit

Game 5 lineups

AL Central: 1. Span, CF; 2. A. Cabrera, SS; 3. Mauer, DH; 4. Konerko, 1B; 5. Sizemore, RF; 6. Chisenhall, 3B; 7. Choo, LF; 8. Moustakas, 2B; 9. Santana, C; Pitcher: Francisco Liriano

Detroit: 1. A. Jackson, CF; 2. Young, LF; 3. Fielder, 1B; 4. Boesch, DH; 5. M. Cabrera, 3B; 6. Peralta, SS; 7. Dirks, RF; 8. Santiago, 2B; 9. Laird, C; Pitcher: Justin Verlander

Inning by Inning

Top 1st (1-2-3 for Detroit)
Justin Masterson enters the game to Pitch for AL Central
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1. A. Jackson lines out to second (4-3 play)
2. Young takes first base after taking a baseball in the shin.
3. Fielder Strikes out
4. Kelly flies out to left Center (Fielded by 8)

Bottom 1st (1-2-3 for AL Central)
Rick Porcello enters the game to Pitch for Detroit
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1. Span lines a single to right center (Fielded by 9)
2. Hosmer Lines out to second for the sacrfice, Span advances to 2nd (4-3 play)
3. Mauer Flies out to Left Field for the sacrifice, Span advances to third (Fielded by 7)
4. Konerko Lines a Single to right Center, Span Scores, Runner at 1st. (Fielded by 9)
5. Sizemore Strikes out

Top 2nd (5-6-7 for Detroit)
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5. M. Cabrera hits himself in the shin while striking out, will stay in the game.
6. Peralta Lines out to third (5-3 play)
7. Dirks flies out to center (Fielded by 8)

Bottom 2nd (6-7-8 for AL Central)
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6. Chisenhall Strikes out
7. Choo Lines out to short (6-3 play)
8. Moustakas hits a single down the right Field line (Fielded by 9)
9. Escobar strikes out

Top 3rd (8-9-1 for Detroit)
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8. Santiago flies out to left (fielded by 7)
9. Laird Singles to right, runner on 1st (Fielded by 9)
1. A. Jackson strikes out
2. Young hits a single to left Center, Runners on 1st and second (Fielded by 8)
3. Fielder hits a double down the Left field Line, Laird scores, Young to third, Runners on 2nd and 3rd
4. Kelly hits into a fielder's choice down the third base line where the out is made at home (5-2 play)

Bottom 3rd (1-2-3 for AL Central)
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1. Span Strikes out
2. Hosmer flies out to right (Fielded by 9)
3. Mauer grounds out at second (4-3 play)

Top 4th (5-6-7 for Detroit)
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5. M. Cabrera flies out to center (Fielded by 8)
6. Peralta Lines out to 1st (3-1 play)
7. Dirks Strikes out

Bottom 4th (4-5-6 for AL Central)
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4. Konerko Flies out to right center and misses a home run by inches (Fielded by 9)
5. Sizemore hits a line drive down the left field line but is out with a diving catch by Kelly (Fielded by 7)
6. Chisenhall grounds out to second (4-3 play)

Top 5th (8-9-1 for Detroit)
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8. Santiago Flies out to Left (Fielded by 7)
9. Laird hits a line drive, that lands at the warning track in right Center, for a double, Runner at 2nd (Fielded by 8)
1. Jackson strikes out
2. Young Lines out straight at the pitcher (1-3 play)

Bottom 5th (7-8-9 for AL Central)
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7. Choo Strikes out
8. Moustakas grounds out to third (5-3 Play)
9. Escobar flies out to right (Fielded by 9)

Top 6th (3-4-5 for Detroit)
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3. Fielder hits a home run to right Center
4. Kelly flies out to left Center (Fielded by 7)
5. M. Cabrara hits a single to right center (Fielded by 8)
6. Peralta Grounds into a double play at 2nd (6-4-3 play)

Bottom 6th (1-2-3 for AL Central)
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1. Span flies out to center (Fielded by 8)
2. Hosmer walks on 9 pitches
3. Mauer Grounds into a Double play at 2nd (4-6-3 Play)

Top 7th (7-8-9 for Detroit)
Matt Thorton Enters the Game to Pitch for AL Central
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7. Dirks Flies out to Left (Fielded by 7)
8. Santiago strikes out
Replacement: Johnathan Broxton Enters the game to pitch for AL Central
9. Laird Flies out to right field

Bottom 7th (4-5-6 for AL Central)
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4. Konerko hits a home run to left center
Replacement: Collin Balester enters the game to pitch for Detroit
5. Sizemore grounds out to third (5-3 Play)
6. Chisenhall Lines out to short (6-3 play)
7. Choo Strikes out

Top 8th (1-2-3 for Detroit)
Jesse Crain enters the game to pitch for AL Central
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1. A. Jackson hits a single toward right center (Fielded by 9)
2. Young hits a home run to Center, A. Jackson scores
3. Fielder flies out to left Center (Fielded by 7)
4. Kelly grounds out to second (4-3 play)
5. M. Cabrera strikes out

Bottom 8th (8-9-1 for AL Central)
Phil Coke enters the game to pitch for Detroit
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8. Moustakas Flies out to right (Fielded by 9)
9. Escobar Strikes out
1. Span Grounds out to second (4-3 play)

Top 9th (6-7-8 for Detroit)
Vinni Pestano enters the game to pitch for AL Central
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6. Peralta flies out to right center (fielded by 9)
7. Dirks singles to left center (Fielded by 8)
8. Santiago Strikes out
9. Laird flies out to right (Fielded by 9)

Bottom 9th (2-3-4 for AL Central)
Jose Valverde enters the Game to pitch for Detroit
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2. Hosmer Strikes out
3. Mauer flies out to left center (Fielded by 7 (Young makes a diving catch because he wasn't watching for the ball))
4. Konerko Grounds out to first (Fielded by 3 and beats Konerko to the bag to end the game)