99 Injuns Scalp 13 Tigers to Win Close Series

Omar Vizquel clears the bases with a triple.

The 2013 Tigers and 1999 Indians came into the first series of the year with high-powered offensive teams that both had weaknesses in pitching: Detroit with a potentially shaky bullpen and Cleveland with a shaky starting rotation outside of ace Bartolo Colon. We expected a few slugfests in this round.

Game One: Cleveland 6, Detroit 5
W: Colon (1-0)
L: Scherzer (0-1)
S: Jackson (1)

Cleveland exploded for six runs in the first four innings to chase Max Scherzer, capped by a bases clearing double from Omar Vizquel in the fourth after Scherzer had given up a double to Richie Sexson and then walked two more.  Detroit managed to nibble at the 6--0 lead off Bartolo Colon, who could only go five innings before departing after giving up leadoff homers in the sixth to Andy Dirks and Alex Avila. Relievers Ricardo Rincon and Mike Jackson helped the Indians cling to the slight 6-5 advantage and shut the door on the Tigers late.

Game Two: Cleveland 9, Detroit 7
W: Karsay (1-0)
L: Benoit (0-1)

This game became the slugfest as advertised between these teams. Detroit started the barrage with three runs in the first off shaky Indians starter Dave Burba, led by an Austin Jackson solo homer to top the inning. But Detroit ace Justin Verlander had his own issues, allowing Cleveland to score five times in the first five innings, the big blow being Jim Thome's two run homer in the fifth, the first of many expected. Detroit then blew out Indians reliever and longtime ace Mark Langston for four more runs in the bottom of the fifth, as Langston allows big blasts from Dirks (who would have three in the series) and Prince Fielder.

With Detroit holding a semi-comfortable 7-5 lead in the top of the ninth, reliever Joaquin Benoit blew the save and gave up four more Cleveland runs, including a two-run blast by Robby Alomar and a solo shot by Wil Cordero. Steve Karsay, who had pitched a perfect eighth for theIndians, came back on in the bottom of the ninth to leave Detroit scoreless and winless.

Game Three: Cleveland 5, Detroit 2
W: Nagy (1-0)
L: Sanchez (0-1)
S: Shuey (1)

Charlie Nagy gave Cleveland a strong 7.1 inning performance, helping rest the bullpen after the slugfest the day before. Although giving up nine hits, Nagy only allowed two Detroit runs, one on Torii Hunter's second homer of the series. Anibal Sanchez wasn't so fortunate for Detroit in the fifth, as Cleveland scored four times, two RBIs each on a Kenny Lofton triple and Alomar single. With the score 5-2 Indians, surprisingly, both teams were hold scoreless for the final four frames. Paul Schuey was magnificent for Cleveland, allowing no hits in 1.2 inning of relief.

Game Four: Detroit 11, Cleveland 3
W: Fister (1-0)
L: Wright (0-1)

Detroit takes out its frustration at losing the first three games of the series by walloping Cleveland. The Indians' Jaret Wright gets hammered for seven runs in 2.2 innings, giving up homers to Hunter (3), Jhonny Peralta (1), Alex Avila (2) and Miguel Cabrera (1). Cabrera's bat had been quiet until this game but perhaps the homer will get him started. Doug Fister mowed down the Indians' bats, who were probably tired from playing three other tough games against Detroit.