Tigers, Angels on Brink of Elimination in ALDS

The Kansas City Royals won their third post season extra inning game in row, while the Detroit Tigers’ pitching imploded against the Baltimore Orioles for the second game in row October 3rd, leaving the Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels on life support trailing 0-2 in their best of five American League Division Series.

The Royals have been getting contributions from everyone– starting pitchers, relievers, great defensive plays– plus there has been a different hero at the plate in each game who drives in the winning run. The latest was Eric Hosmer, who hit this two run homer in the 11th inning:

The Royals are clearly in the driver’s seat, as the series now moves to Kansas City.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers pitching staff has seen a collapse of epic proportion. In Game 1, 2013 A.L. Cy Young winner Max Scherzer allowed five earned runs in 7 1/3 innings, and then watched Detroit’s bullpen give up six more in an eight run eighth inning.  Baltimore won 12-3.  Then in game two, the Orioles trailed 6-3 in the eighth when the bullpen fell apart again. First, Joba Chamberlain, who has spent most of his career being overrated while he played for the Yankees, allowed three earned runs in 1/3 of an inning. Chamberlain (who allowed an earned run in Game 1 without recording an out), now has an ERA of 108.00 for the post season. Joakim Soria, who has been a highly successful closer in the past but who struggled with Detroit after being picked up during the season from the Texas Rangers, gave up this three run double to pinch hitter Delmon Young that put the Orioles on top:

The series now moves to Detroit, where the Tigers will try to stop the slide with left hander David Price getting the start. Perhaps they can pick up a victory if Price pitches a complete game.