KEY STAT
Ryan Perry: 1 out, 2 runs allowed
Tigers: 8 innings, 1 runs scored.
KEY PLAY
KEY THOUGHTS
I guess you could say the Tigers suffered a post-clinch hangover. I don't want to get too literal about that, of course. But the Tigers did seem to have a certain, well, listlessness to them. There's still home field advantage to play for, but no reason to make too big a deal out of this game. If ever you were allowed a let down, it's a day game after a champagne bath. (Still, got to scoreboard watch a bit here: Texas is up 7-4 in the fourth as I type this ...)
Rick Porcello wasn't bad. He wasn't great. He was just Porcello. Sometimes the ball lands in the gloves, sometimes it doesn't. Today, a couple found there way through. Still, he pitched seven innings of three-run ball. That's certainly enough to give his team a chance to win.
Of course, Oakland remained pretty stingy with their runs allowed. So far in three games this series, they've allowed 1 run, 3 runs and 3 runs. A's starting pitchers have allowed a total of five runs in the series. So yeah, they're pretty good, too.
The real question of interest is how the heck the MLB came up with the schedule this year. I didn't realize it, but of the 10 games the teams play this year 8 are at the Coliseum. How'd that happen?!
Anyway, Tigers lose. Magic number still 0. Enjoy the rest of your weekend as fans of the AL Central champions.
PS
And a special "Get well soon!" to our own Big Al.