AL Central vs Detroit Tigers, Game 5 Recap: This One's for all the Rubber

The title is basically in reference the the 2011 Fiesta Bowl end game which ended with a field goal. As for this recap, sorry it is so late, but I do have a life so here we go.

All good things must come to an end, even grudge matches in January.. As far as this one is noted, it featured the return of Detroit ace Justin Verlander as he takes on another Minnesota Twins pitcher. This time it was Francisco Liriano whom Twins fans hope regains his 2006 or 2010 form.

For a time, it looked like Game five would be close as the teams traded zeros for the first three innings and then solo home runs in the 4th with Joe Mauer striking first followed by Prince Fielder. However, through four innings, Verlander already had eight strikeouts and proceeded to strike out the side in the 5th inning increasing that total to 11.

The bottom of the 5th proved to be decisive in that bad luck seems to follow Liriano. Following a lead-off single by Johnny Peralta, Andy Dirks appeared to make the first out of the inning by hitting it toward AL Central Left Fielder Shin-Soo Choo, but he dropped the ball and then managed to kick it to the wall. Twins Centerfielder Denard Span also tried to get the ball but stumbled into Choo and caused him to roll his ankle. By the time the dust settled, two runs have scored on a four base error which resulted in Dirks getting a inside the park home run. For good measure, Detroit added a home run by Austin Jackson to increase their lead and added one more run in the 8th off another home run by Jackson.

Meanwhile Verlander was in another dimension striking out at least two batters an inning. When the smoke cleared, all 10 batters in the American League Central's lineup had at least one strikeout led by Paul Konerko who had four strikeouts and then Span, A. Cabrera, and Lonnie Chisenhall who had three a piece. In a bout of poetic justice, Verlander ended the game and the series with a strikeout of Grady Sizemore.

No Studs and Duds tonight, but I will hand out MVP Awards

Offensive MVP

Winner: Prince Fielder, Detroit (4 HR in 5 games)

Loser: Joe Mauer, AL Central (Why not, he went 7/18 with three home runs in the series)

Defensive MVP

Winner: Justin Verlander: Yes he wasn't that good in game one, but he had 29 strikeouts for the series.

Loser: Gavin Floyd: He helped pace the American League Central to a shutout in game three giving up only four hits and struck out eight over seven solid innngs of work.

Results

Game 1: Detroit 7-3

Game 2: AL Central 9-1

Game 3: AL Central 1-0

Game 4: Detroit 4-2

Game 5: Detroit 5-1

Epilogue

Do these games matter. In the grand scheme of things, no they do not. In fact that was just an exercise to show what could happen in the context of a short series between the division winner and the rest of the division. The true fact that the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and Minnesota Twins contributed greatly to the series results is, more or less, based on the facts known about the teams in the Division. Plus this is coupled with what is known about the Detroit Tigers and how they improved themselves or not. In the real world, Jim Leyland isn't going to have the luxury of having a four man starting rotation. Heck, the Division as we know it might be turned upside down by the time we reach October with the Indians and Kansas City Royals locked in a tight battle with the Twins close behind. Meanwhile it is the Tigers and White Sox trying to avoid last place where the Tigers discovered that Fielder is nothing but a bench filler.

I am not going to make any predictions, but I'll say this, it will be an interesting season in the American League Central.

Inning By Inning

Top 1st (1-2-3 for AL Central)
Justin Verlander enters the game to pitch for Detroit
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1. Span Strikes out
2. A. Cabrera Flies out to Left Field (Fielded by 7)
3. Mauer Strikes out

Bottom 1st (1-2-3 for Detroit)
Francisco Liriano enters the game to pitch for AL Central
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1. A. Jackson Lines a base hit into right Center, Runner at 1st (Fielded by 9)
2. Young grounds into a Double play at short (6-4-3 Play)
3. Fielder Flies out to right (Fielded by 9)

Top 2nd (4-5-6 for AL Central)
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4. Konerko Strikes out
5. Sizemore hits a single down the left field line, Runner at 1st (Fielded by 7)
6. Chisenhall Strikes out
7. Choo Flies out to shallow center (Fielded by 8)

Bottom 2nd (4-5-6 for Detroit)
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4. Boesch grounds out to 1st. (3-1 play)
5. M. Cabrera Strikes out
6. Peralta Flies out to left center (Fielded by 8)

Top 3rd (8-9-1 for AL Central)
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8. Moustakas Grounds out at Second (4-3 play)
9. Santana Strikes out
1. Span Strikes out

Bottom 3rd (7-8-9 for Detroit)
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7. Dirks singles to Left, Runner at 1st (Fielded by 7)
8. Santiago grounds out to the pitcher and Dirks is doubled off first (1-3 play)
9. Laird Singles to right Center field (Fielded by 9)
1. A. Jackson flies out to right (Fielded by 9)

Top 4th (2-3-4 for AL Central)
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2. A. Cabrera Strikes out
3. Mauer hits a home run down the right baseline
4. Konerko Strikes out
5. Sizemore flies out to center (Fielded by 8)

Bottom 4th (2-3-4 for Detroit)
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2. Young grounds out to Third (5-3 play)
3. Fielder hits a long home run to Left Field
4. Boesch Singles to right Field, Runner on 1st (Fielded by 9)
5. M. Cabrera grounds into a double play at short (6-4-3 play)

Top 5th (6-7-8 for AL Central)
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6. Chisenhall Strikes out
7. Choo strikes out
8. Moustakas strikes out

Bottom 5th (6-7-8 for Detroit)
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6. Peralta Singles to Left Center, Runner on 1st (Fielded by 7)
7. Dirks hits a long fly ball to Left center field, Choo is under it but drops the ball. In an attempt to recover the ball, Choo accicently kicks the ball to the wall forcing Span to come after the ball, but he stumbles into Choo causing Choo to roll his ankle. The result is a four base error charged to Shin-Soo Choo as when the ball finally made it back into the Infield, Dirks had a inside the Park home run. Peralta scores, Dirks Scores (Error Charged to Choo, Fielded by 8 and thrown to 2 in an attempt to get the trailing runner) Replacement: Alex Gordon enters the game to play Left Field for AL Central.
8. Santiago flies out to right (Fielded by 9)
9. Laird Grounds out to second (4-3 play)
1. A. Jackson Hits a home run to right center
2. Young Lines out to third (Fielded by 5)

Top 6th (9-1-2 for AL Central)
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9. Santana Strikes out
1. Span hits a line drive single to right Center, runner on 1st (Fielded by 9)
2. A. Cabrera Strikes out
3. Mauer strikes out

Bottom 6th (3-4-5 for Detroit)
Vinni Pestano Enters the game to pitch for AL Central
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3. Fielder Grounds out to 1st (3-1 play)
4. Boesch hits a single to left, Runner on 1st (Fielded by 7)
5. M. Cabrera grounds into a double play at short (6-4-3 play)

Top 7th (4-5-6 for AL Central)
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4. Konerko strikes out
5. Sizemore grounds out at first (3-1 play)
6. Chisenhall Strikes out

Bottom 7th (6-7-8 for Detroit)
Greg Holland enters the game to pitch for AL Central
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6. Peralta Flies out to right center (Fielded by 8)
7. Dirks hits a single to Left center, Runner on 1st (Fielded by 7)
8. Santiago Flies out to right, but not enough to advance Dirks (Fielded by 9)
9. Laird Strikes out

Top 8th (7-8-9 For AL Central)
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7. A. Gordon Strikes out
8. Moustakas Grounds out to second (4-3 play)
9. Santana Singles to right, Runner on 1st (Fielded by 9)
1. Span Strikes out

Bottom 8th (1-2-3 for Detroit)
Glen Perkins enters the game to pitch for AL Central
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1. A. Jackson hits a home run to center
2. Young grounds out to second (4-3 play)
3. Fielder pops out to third (Fielded by 5)
4. Boesch Strikes out

Top 9th (2-3-4 for AL Central
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2. A. Cabrera Strikes out
3. Mauer Singles to left Center (Fielded by 7)
4. Konerko strikes out
5. Sizemore strikes out