2008 Woodie Awards
Motown Blues: The Tigers are in the World Series
Juan Bernal
Issue date: 10/23/06 Section: Sports
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The Detroit Tigers have had an improbable run of success all season long, and on Saturday October 14th, they will have a chance to show those successes on the ultimate plateau, the World Series.
The Tigers, despite finishing only one game back of the best record in the American League were heavy underdogs against the Yankees. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was predicting a Yankee victory not only in the series, but to take the World Series as well. The Yankees dominated the Tigers in Game 1 of the series, however, the resilient Tigers stormed back to take the next three games.
As the Tigers went won their first postseason series since 1984, when they won the World Series, were getting prepared to face the Oakland A's, the AL West champions who had swept the Twins 3-0 in the Division Series. It had also been awhile since the A's found themselves with any postseason success, as the last time they had won a postseason series was 1990.
The Tigers, despite having to open the series in McAffee Coliseum in Oakland, were considered the favorite in this series. From the outset, they played like it. Key role players were a huge part of the Tigers success this season, and Game 1 was no different. Brandon Inge, the 9th place hitter in the Tiger lineup had 3 RBI's and Nate Robertson threw five shutout innings as the Tigers took Game 1, 5-1. In Game 2, Alexis Gomez, a career minor leaguer who had not seen action in the postseason came up big as he drove in four runs to ignite the Tigers to an 8-5 victory and a 2-0 advantage heading back to Motown.
Back in Motown, where the Tigers had a 46-35 record in the regular season. In Game 3, pitching was the facet that would lift the Tigers. Kenny Rogers pitched 7.1 innings of shutout baseball and Todd Jones got his second consecutive save as the Tigers held the potent A's offense to only two hits to hold on for a 3-0 win. With the Tigers one win away from the World Series, they would send Jeremy Bonderman to the mound to try to close out the series. Early in the game, the A's looked like the Tiger celebration would have to wait a day as they got out to a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth that all changed when Curtis Granderson and Craig Monroe hit consecutive RBI doubles to cut the lead 3-2. In the bottom of the 6th, Magglio Ordoñez hit the game tying home run to even the score at 3. In the bottom of the 9th, Ordoñez would once again come through. After being a disappointment last season as he watched his former team, the Chicago White Sox win the World Series; he and Detroit management were criticized for signing him to a five year, $75 million deal. However, his shot at redemption came with 2 on and 2 out in the bottom of the ninth against A's reliever Huston Street. Ordoñez hit a high fly ball over the left center field to give the Tigers a 6-3 victory and put them in the World Series.
The Tigers, who open the World Series at Comerica Park on Saturday October 21, will either face the Mets or the Cardinals in the World Series.
The Tigers, despite finishing only one game back of the best record in the American League were heavy underdogs against the Yankees. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was predicting a Yankee victory not only in the series, but to take the World Series as well. The Yankees dominated the Tigers in Game 1 of the series, however, the resilient Tigers stormed back to take the next three games.
As the Tigers went won their first postseason series since 1984, when they won the World Series, were getting prepared to face the Oakland A's, the AL West champions who had swept the Twins 3-0 in the Division Series. It had also been awhile since the A's found themselves with any postseason success, as the last time they had won a postseason series was 1990.
The Tigers, despite having to open the series in McAffee Coliseum in Oakland, were considered the favorite in this series. From the outset, they played like it. Key role players were a huge part of the Tigers success this season, and Game 1 was no different. Brandon Inge, the 9th place hitter in the Tiger lineup had 3 RBI's and Nate Robertson threw five shutout innings as the Tigers took Game 1, 5-1. In Game 2, Alexis Gomez, a career minor leaguer who had not seen action in the postseason came up big as he drove in four runs to ignite the Tigers to an 8-5 victory and a 2-0 advantage heading back to Motown.
Back in Motown, where the Tigers had a 46-35 record in the regular season. In Game 3, pitching was the facet that would lift the Tigers. Kenny Rogers pitched 7.1 innings of shutout baseball and Todd Jones got his second consecutive save as the Tigers held the potent A's offense to only two hits to hold on for a 3-0 win. With the Tigers one win away from the World Series, they would send Jeremy Bonderman to the mound to try to close out the series. Early in the game, the A's looked like the Tiger celebration would have to wait a day as they got out to a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth that all changed when Curtis Granderson and Craig Monroe hit consecutive RBI doubles to cut the lead 3-2. In the bottom of the 6th, Magglio Ordoñez hit the game tying home run to even the score at 3. In the bottom of the 9th, Ordoñez would once again come through. After being a disappointment last season as he watched his former team, the Chicago White Sox win the World Series; he and Detroit management were criticized for signing him to a five year, $75 million deal. However, his shot at redemption came with 2 on and 2 out in the bottom of the ninth against A's reliever Huston Street. Ordoñez hit a high fly ball over the left center field to give the Tigers a 6-3 victory and put them in the World Series.
The Tigers, who open the World Series at Comerica Park on Saturday October 21, will either face the Mets or the Cardinals in the World Series.
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