Red Sox vs. Tigers: Predicting Final Score and Top Performers of ALCS Game 5

The Detroit Tigers evened up the American League Championship Series on Wednesday night with a big win over the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park.

Whoever wins in Game 5 will have the series advantage and be one win away from clinching the AL pennant and a World Series berth. This is what you call a game-changer, and with high nerves on both sides, it is going to be an eventful evening.

Here are my predictions on how I think tonight will pan out, starting with the top performers.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

The catcher will once again come through with clutch hits in key situations for the Red Sox. Although Saltalamacchia's not always the most consistent performer, after his walk-off single in Game 2, he's ready.

His legend in baseball lore is still being written during this series. But as well as he can hit, it will be for nothing if Saltalamacchia doesn't have solid runners behind him.

Anibal Sanchez

The Tigers' pitcher is set to start once again, and it is up to him to set the tone. After a phenomenal summer and strong Game 1, tonight will be the ultimate test for Sanchez to keep up his stamina. If he keeps aim and focus, the Red Sox are going to have problems hitting.

Torii Hunter

After a two-run double in Game 4, Hunter's strength is important for the Tigers offense to once again take control of the game. He still has a few plays in him like the other night, and his teammates will follow, once again bringing an offense with which the Red Sox will have trouble keeping up.

Game prediction:

Tonight features a repeat of Game 1 on the mound, with Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit against Jon Lester for Boston. That does not mean their performances will be duplicates of last time, though, as it will be a high-hitting and high-scoring evening.

The game will go 10 innings, challenging the Cardinals-Dodgers, and the Tigers will claim a 5-4 win on their home turf.

The offense is once again going to set the tone early on for the Tigers, with an early-game explosion followed by a storm of hits but no runs. The Red Sox will do their best to keep up but eventually run out of steam during the final inning.

This evening’s game is going to be a challenge of stamina, which will foreshadow the remainder of the series. This series is going to make it all the way to Game 7, with the Tigers improving in every drawn-out competition.