Detroit Tigers Notes And Quotes 9-22-11

--RHP Doug Fister made a firm bid to start the second postseason game, working three scoreless innings in relief of RHP Max Scherzer and picking up a victory when Detroit rallied for three runs in the eighth to defeat host Kansas City 6-3. Fister is 7-1 with the Tigers. He allowed hits to the first two batters he faced, with an unearned run scoring on an error, then retired nine in a row. He threw just 39 pitches. The popular thought is the Monday starter between Fister and Scherzer will pitch the second playoff game, but manager Jim Leyland might elect to pitch both in the same game again if he doesn't know which opponent the Tigers will be playing later in the week.

"He got his work in," Leyland said. "If we had scored another run there in the ninth, we would have brought him out again."

Fister said, "I feel sharp right now, feel healthy. I left a couple up and they capitalized on it, but for the most part, it was a matter of keeping the ball down."

--DH Victor Martinez replaced 1B Miguel Cabrera, who did not start, as Detroit's cleanup hitter and drove in the Tigers' first three runs. Martinez had a two-out single to center in the first, an RBI groundout to second with runners on first and third in the fifth and another two-out single to center in the seventh to tie the score at 3-3. He now has 97 RBI this season. The possibility of him playing first base in the World Series, if Detroit advances, surfaced when Cabrera was spotted taking ground balls at third base before the game.

--PH Miguel Cabrera saw one pitch and smoked it into the right field corner for a tiebreaking RBI double that started a three-run, game-winning eighth inning. "He's definitely one of the best hitters in the game," said his replacement at cleanup, DH Victor Martinez. "That just shows you."

Cabrera was given a "day off," but manager Jim Leyland told him before the game to be mentally prepared to pinch-hit late in the game. Cabrera was sent up after PH/RF Ryan Raburn was hit by a pitch.

"He's a special player; they do special things," Leyland said. "I felt like I had to hit him there because I couldn't bunt somebody. You open up first base, you put him up there then they're going to walk him."

--1B Don Kelly spelled 1B Miguel Cabrera, batting second and not fourth, and collected three hits. Kelly singled, doubled and hit his sixth home run, a two-run shot in the eighth that gave Detroit a three-run cushion. Kelly may see playoff action at a variety of positions.

--RHP Jose Valverde is marching through the record books. Valverde recorded his 47th save in 47 opportunities, allowing two hits but no runs in a scoreless ninth. "We just felt that with everything Valverde's done, Valverde deserved a shot at a save," manager Jim Leyland said. Detroit broke a 3-3 tie with three runs in the eighth to make RHP Doug Fister, working in relief, the winning pitcher. Had it been a non-save situation, Leyland said he would have let Fister finish the game. "I didn't have too much control of my fastball or my split-finger," Valverde said. "The two hits were off my split-finger."

--RHP Max Scherzer allowed two runs in the first inning after being staked to a 1-0 lead but settled down after that to pitch shutout ball through the remainder of his five innings. "I feel good. I like where my stuff's at right now," Scherzer said. "My slider and changeup feel very good coming out of my hand. I can execute with those pitches in all situations." Either Scherzer or RHP Doug Fister will pitch Monday against Cleveland and then in the second game of the playoffs. Manager Jim Leyland said both starters would be extended in their next outings. Scherzer threw 84 pitches.

--3B Wilson Betemit still isn't able to play due to knee pain. Betemit tried taking grounders before Detroit's final road game of the regular season but was not very comfortable. It was hoped he'd be ready to play Wednesday after suffering the injury sliding into home last Friday. 3B Brandon Inge replaced him in the starting lineup.

--RHP Al Alburquerque, who has been slowed by a sore right hip, will return to the mound for the first time in more than a week, working in relief of rookie RHP Jacob Turner on Thursday. "Alburquerque will pitch (Thursday). No question," said manager Jim Leyland, who was advised to hold Alburquerque out of Tuesday's action after the right-hander threw a pregame bullpen session. Turner won't go longer than five innings in his third start in the majors. Leyland wants Alburquerque to work multiple times to make sure he gets his sharpness back entering the postseason.

BY THE NUMBERS
2 -- Career relief appearances by RHP Doug Fister after he relieved RHP Max Scherzer to begin the sixth inning Wednesday at Kansas City. Fister's other relief appearance was Aug. 9, 2009, for Seattle. The idea was to have both Scherzer and Fister on track to start in the second playoff game, depending upon the opposition and game site.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We just feel that you have to prepare for everything. That's what you have to do as an organization, get yourself ready for all possibilities. That's all I'm saying. You prepare for every single thing you can." -- Manager Jim Leyland, on why he was having 1B Miguel Cabrera take grounders at third base prior to Detroit's final road game of the regular season. If Detroit advances to the World Series, Leyland has to find a way to keep Cabrera, DH Victor Martinez and C Alex Avila in the game at the same time for games in National League parks.

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