2013 ALCS: 5 Things That Went Right for the Tigers in Game 4

After dropping Game 3 on Tuesday, the Detroit Tigers needed to win Wednesday’s pivotal Game 4 to tie up the series at 2-2 before their final home game on Thursday. Thankfully for the Tigers, it was a blowout from the very beginning.

Here are five things that went right for the Tigers in their Game 4, 7-3 win over the Boston Red Sox:

Fister Firing 

Doug Fister recorded his best outing of the postseason thus far, pitching six solid innings for Detroit and surrendering just one run on eight hits. Fister also recorded seven strikeouts, giving Tigers starters a cumulative 1.00 ERA during the ALCS.

Punching Peavy 

Detroit destroyed Red Sox starter Jake Peavy early and often in Game 4. After a one-two-three first inning, Detroit blasted Peavy for five runs on three hits in the second. After Omar Infante led off with a double and was driven in by Austin Jackson in the fourth, Peavy’s night was over.

His final stat line? Three innings pitched, five hits and seven runs with three walks and only one strikeout.

It’s safe to say the Tigers had Peavy’s number yet again.

Leyland’s Lineup 

Detroit manager Jim Leyland made the first major adjustment in his batting order, moving Jackson down to the eighth spot and shifting everyone else up. Just about the entire lineup, especially Jackson, seemed to respond.

Here’s a look at Detroit’s numbers from Game 4:

Defensive Adjustments 

With a 7-0 lead through five innings, Leyland could afford to make defensive substitutions: Don Kelly replaced left fielder Jhonny Peralta in the fifth, and Ramon Santiago replaced third baseman Miguel Cabrera in the seventh.

Stabilized bullpen 

The Tigers’ bullpen was good enough on Wednesday night, and that’s all that mattered.

With a 7-1 lead entering the eighth inning, Phil Coke, Al Alburquerque, Drew Smyly and Joaquin Benoit combined for three strikeouts in two innings, while allowing four hits and two runs.