2011 MLB Playoff Schedule: Tigers vs. Rangers Drama Makes for Heart-Stopping TV

The American League Championship Series had something happen last night that has never happened before in the history of the playoffs. 

Nelson Cruz’s walk-off Grand Slam in the 11th inning of Game 2 of the ALCS, was the first time a game has ended in this amazing fashion. The home run propelled the Rangers to a two games to nothing lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Detroit Tigers. 

This historic feat to end Game 2 of the playoff series is just one of the many reasons why this series, between these two evenly matched teams, makes for heart-stopping games. 

Game 1 featured two of the best pitchers in the American League, in Texas’ C.J. Wilson and Detroit’s Justin Verlander going head-to-head.  If it wasn’t for a rain delay, Wilson and Verlander, were on their way to a memorable game. 

Both pitchers through four innings had a combined 11 strikeouts, with Wilson’s Rangers leading 2-0. After the rain delay, the Tigers found a way to comeback in the game scoring two runs in the fifth inning, to cut the Rangers lead to 3-2. 

However, the two runs in the fifth were not enough to overcome a solid Rangers bullpen, as the Rangers held on to win Game 1, 3-2. 

Then there was yesterday’s historic game that saw the Rangers not only win in extra-innings, but, had the Rangers tie the game late in the seventh inning. 

As the series moves to Game 3 and 4 in Detroit, the Tigers and Rangers will continue to have close games, where one bad bounce, or, one big hit can determine the game, as it did in Game 2.  

In Game 2, the Tigers left a whopping 13 runners on base, going 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position. If they were able to get just one more hit to score one of those runners, the Nelson grand-slam never happens and the series is tied at one game apiece.  

Is that a case of the Tigers hitters not coming up in clutch spots, or the Rangers pitching staff being able to pitch their way out of jams?  

Game 3 is Tuesday, just one day after all of the drama from last night. It will be an electric scene from Comerica Park, in Detroit. Who knows what we will see from the pitching matchup from Rangers’ Colby Lewis, who’s undefeated in his career in the postseason, and from Tigers’ Doug Fister, who’s 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA at home this year?

Someone will step up tonight to make another lasting post season memory.  

You’ll just have to watch and find out who that will be. 

Twitter: @tjmcaloon