AL Central rivals Cleveland (99-63) and Detroit (91-71) got together in the wild card
series to determine who'd have the right to face AL Central winner Minnesota (106-56)
in an ALDS. It was my first time Netplaying with Nate Feuerer and we had a lot of fun.
Game 1: Detroit's J.A. Happ (11-4, 2.98) vs. Cleveland's Justin Verlander (15-3, 3.53)
Paul Goldschmidt's first-inning single and fielding error by Cleveland RF Max Kepler
let Brandon Lowe score from first base off Indians ace Justin Verlander, continuing the
Indians ace's shaky postseason history. The Tribe goes up 2-1 in the bottom half of the
inning as J.T Realmuto's homer scores Gleyber Torres. Detroit takes a 3-2 lead in the
third as Xander Bogaerts, Brandon Lowe and Paul DeJong go single-triple-single, then
Ronald Acuna Jr. ties it up 3-3 in the bottom half with a leadoff homer. Not what was
expected from these two aces.
It stayed that way until the seventh when Verlander allowed a one-out single to former
Indians farmhand Cristian Pache and was lifted for Reyes Moronta. Bogaerts greeted him
with a run-scoring double, but no further damage left the score 4-3. Cleveland responded
with a one-out solo homer by Brian Anderson off midseason acquisition Carlos Martinez
to tie it up.
After the Cleveland bullpen's shaky debut the previous inning, the roof fell in in the
eighth. Alex Claudio started the inning and gave up a single to Jake Cave and a single
to Wil Myers. Lou Trivino entered, and then this sequence happened:
Trivino now pitching
4-4 0 12- 22 Brosseau was hit by a pitch, Cave to third, Myers,W to
second (FBBFH)
4-4 0 123 32 Knizner walked, Cave scored, Myers,W to third, Brosseau
to second (CBBBSB)
5-4 0 123 11 Pache lined a single to left, Myers,W scored, Brosseau to
third, Knizner to second (CBX)
Gsellman now pitching
6-4 0 123 12 Bogaerts struck out (BSFS)
6-4 1 123 32 Lowe,B struck out (FBBBFS)
6-4 2 123 00 Goldschmidt flied out to right (X)
Robert Gsellman entered and kept the Tigers from scoring any more with the bases
loaded and no outs to keep things within reach. Hunter Renfroe hit a solo homer off
Martinez in the bottom of the eighth to make it 6-5 Tigers.
After a scoreless Tigers ninth, closer Jose Leclerc (19 saves, 0.94 ERA) came on to
shut the door. Willson Contreras and Dylan Carlson walked, then Anderson popped a bunt
to Leclerc -- a questionable move since the Indians had no sacrifice hits all season.
Acuna walked to load the bases, and lefty Jose Alvarado came on to face Torres. The
Indians second baseman lined a single to center field to score both Contreras and Carlson;
the rookie outfielder made the postseason roster in place of backup catcher Alex Avila
(.106) to add speed and late-inning flexibility. The Indians win 7-6 and Cleveland Mayor
Kate Upton celebrates by announcing her GOP senatorial bid after the game.
10/1/2021, Det21-Cle21, "the Rock," Colavito Field
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2021 Tigers 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 6 9 0 10 1
2021 Indians 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 7 9 1 6 0
Tigers AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB
Bogaerts ss 5 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 1 1 0 0
Lowe,B lf 4 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 2 0 0 0
Goldschmidt 1b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .333 4 1 0 0
DeJong 3b 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 0 1 0 0
Cave dh 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0
Myers,W rf 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 0 0 0
Kipnis 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 3 0 0
Brosseau ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Knizner c 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 13 0 0 0
Pache cf 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0
Happ,J.A. p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0
Martinez,C p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Clase p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Pomeranz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Leclerc p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0
Alvarado,J p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
36 6 9 5 1 1 0 6 11 0 0 1 1 0 0 25 6 0 0
Indians AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB
Acuna Jr. cf 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 1 0 0 0
Torres,G 2b 5 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400 0 2 0 0
Realmuto c 4 1 2 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 11 0 0 0
Renfroe lf 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 2 0 0 0
Correa ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 4 0 0
Kepler rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 2 0 1 0
Contreras,WE 1b 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 9 1 0 0
Encarnacion dh 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0 0 0
Carlson ph 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Anderson,Bri 3b 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 2 0 0
Verlander p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 1 0 0
Moronta p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Claudio p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Trivino p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Gsellman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Cleavinger p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Whitley,K p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
33 7 9 7 0 1 4 5 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 10 1 0
Tigers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA
Happ,J.A. 6.0 6 3 3 2 8 96 64 25 2 0 0 0 1 4.50
Martinez,C BS 1 1.1 2 2 2 0 4 24 17 6 2 0 0 0 0 13.50
Clase H 1 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Pomeranz H 1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Leclerc H 1, L 0-1 0.1 0 2 2 3 0 17 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 54.00
Alvarado,J BS 1 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
8.1 9 7 7 5 13 146 92 38 4 0 0 0 1
Indians INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA
Verlander 6.1 5 4 4 3 9 108 63 27 0 0 0 1 0 5.68
Moronta 0.2 1 0 0 1 0 9 7 4 0 1 0 0 0 0.00
Claudio 0.0 1 2 2 1 0 10 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 99.00
Trivino 0.0 1 0 0 1 0 14 6 3 0 0 1 0 0 0.00
Gsellman 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 11 7 3 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Cleavinger 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 5 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Whitley,K W 1-0 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 6 4 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
9.0 9 6 6 6 11 163 94 43 0 1 1 2 0
Det: Brosseau batted for Kipnis in the 8th
Brosseau moved to 2b in the 8th
Cle: Carlson batted for Encarnacion in the 7th
GWRBI: Torres,G
Temperature: 50, Sky: clear, Wind: out to left at 9 MPH.
10/1/2021, Det21-Cle21, "the Rock," Colavito Field
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2021 Tigers 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 6 9 0 10 1
2021 Indians 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 7 9 1 6 0
Tigers -----A------ -----B------ -----C------ -----D------ -----E------
Bogaerts ss 1>k S 63 Moronta Gsellman
D.1-H k
Lowe,B lf W T.1-H 6/L 7.2-3 k
Goldschmidt 1b note 1 k 6>W IW 9
DeJong 3b 53 S.3-H k 43 9>Cleavinger
63
Cave dh wp.2-3 k W.1-2 8>Claudio S
k S
Myers,W rf 2>143 4>63 k W.1-2 Whitley,K
9
Kipnis 2b 31 k 7
Brosseau ph Trivino wp.1-2
note 2 8
Knizner c 63 3/fl 7>k note 3
Pache cf 3>53 5>k S note 4
1: S.1-H(e9/th);B-2 2: HBP.2-3;1-2 3: W.3-H;2-3;1-2 4: S.3-H;2-3;1-2
Indians -----A------ -----B------ -----C------ -----D------ -----E------
Acuna Jr. cf 1>53 3>HR 31 k W.2-3;1-2
Torres,G 2b S 9 5>43 k Alvarado,J
note 1
Realmuto c HR.1-H T 43 8>k
Renfroe lf k k k HR
Correa ss 7 W 6>W Clase
k
Kepler rf 2>k 7 643/gdp Pomeranz
9
Contreras,WE 1b k 4>k 6/L 9>Leclerc
W
Encarnacion dh S S 7>Martinez,C
Carlson ph k W.1-2
Anderson,Bri 3b k k HR 1/b
1: S.3-H;2-H;1-2
Tigers IN OUT ER Indians IN OUT ER
Happ,J.A. A1 C7 3 Verlander A1 C9 4
Martinez,C C8 D4 2 BS 1 Moronta D1 D4 0
Clase D5 D5 0 H 1 Claudio D5 D6 2
Pomeranz D6 D6 0 H 1 Trivino D7 D9 0
Leclerc D7 E1 2 H 1, L 0-1 Gsellman E1 E3 0
Alvarado,J E2 E2 0 BS 1 Cleavinger E4 E5 0
Whitley,K E6 E7 0 W 1-0
10/1/2021, Det21-Cle21, "the Rock," Colavito Field
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2021 Tigers 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 6 9 0 10 1
2021 Indians 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 7 9 1 6 0
Score O Rnr BS Event
----- - --- -- -----
************** Top of the 1st inning, Tigers batting
0-0 0 --- 12 Bogaerts struck out (BSFC)
0-0 1 --- 31 Lowe,B walked (BBBCB)
0-0 1 1-- 00 Goldschmidt lined a single to right, Lowe,B scored on an
error by the right fielder Kepler, Goldschmidt to
second (X)
1-0 1 -2- 22 DeJong grounded out to third (CBFBFX)
1-0 2 -2- 01 Verlander threw a wild pitch, Goldschmidt to third (CB)
1-0 2 --3 22 Cave struck out (CB.FBS)
************** Bottom of the 1st inning, Indians batting
1-0 0 --- 12 Acuna Jr. grounded out to third (SBFX)
1-0 1 --- 10 Torres,G lined a single to shallow center (BX)
1-0 1 1-- 12 Realmuto homered deep to left, Torres,G scored (BSSX)
1-2 1 --- 02 Renfroe struck out (SSS)
1-2 2 --- 12 Correa flied out to left (FBSX)
************** Top of the 2nd inning, Tigers batting
1-2 0 --- 10 Myers,W grounded out to the mound (BX)
1-2 1 --- 21 Kipnis grounded out to first (BBCX)
1-2 2 --- 10 Knizner grounded out to short (BX)
************** Bottom of the 2nd inning, Indians batting
1-2 0 --- 32 Kepler struck out (FBSBBFC)
1-2 1 --- 22 Contreras,WE struck out (BSCBC)
1-2 2 --- 11 Encarnacion lined a single to left center (FBX)
1-2 2 1-- 12 Anderson,Bri struck out (FFBS)
************** Top of the 3rd inning, Tigers batting
1-2 0 --- 10 Pache grounded out to third (BX)
1-2 1 --- 22 Bogaerts lined a single to shallow center (CSBBX)
1-2 1 1-- 00 Lowe,B tripled deep to center, Bogaerts scored (X)
2-2 1 --3 32 Goldschmidt struck out (BCBFBFS)
2-2 2 --3 10 DeJong reached on an infield single to the pitcher,
Lowe,B scored (BX)
3-2 2 1-- 32 Cave struck out (BBSCB>C)
************** Bottom of the 3rd inning, Indians batting
3-2 0 --- 00 Acuna Jr. homered deep to left (X)
3-3 0 --- 00 Torres,G flied out to right (X)
3-3 1 --- 11 Realmuto tripled deep to right center (BSX)
3-3 1 --3 12 Renfroe struck out (CBCFS)
3-3 2 --3 31 Correa walked (BBFBB)
3-3 2 1-3 01 Kepler flied out to left (CX)
************** Top of the 4th inning, Tigers batting
3-3 0 --- 20 Myers,W grounded out to short (BBX)
3-3 1 --- 22 Kipnis struck out (CSBBS)
3-3 2 --- 00 Knizner popped out to first (X)
************** Bottom of the 4th inning, Indians batting
3-3 0 --- 22 Contreras,WE struck out (BBFCS)
3-3 1 --- 10 Encarnacion lined a single to shallow left (BX)
3-3 1 1-- 12 Anderson,Bri struck out (SSFFFBC)
3-3 2 1-- 20 Acuna Jr. grounded out to first (BBX)
************** Top of the 5th inning, Tigers batting
3-3 0 --- 22 Pache struck out (CFBBS)
3-3 1 --- 02 Bogaerts grounded out to short (CCX)
3-3 2 --- 12 Lowe,B lined out to short (SCBX)
************** Bottom of the 5th inning, Indians batting
3-3 0 --- 12 Torres,G grounded out to second (CFBX)
3-3 1 --- 02 Realmuto grounded out to second (FSX)
3-3 2 --- 32 Renfroe struck out (BBSBCFC)
************** Top of the 6th inning, Tigers batting
3-3 0 --- 32 Goldschmidt walked (CCBBFFBB)
3-3 0 1-- 12 DeJong struck out (BCCC)
3-3 1 1-- 32 Cave walked, Goldschmidt to second (1BCBFBB)
3-3 1 12- 22 Myers,W struck out (CFBFBS)
3-3 2 12- 00 Kipnis flied out to left (X)
************** Bottom of the 6th inning, Indians batting
3-3 0 --- 32 Correa walked (BBCBSFB)
3-3 0 1-- 12 Kepler grounded into a double play, Bogaerts to Kipnis to
Goldschmidt (>F1BFX)
3-3 2 --- 00 Contreras,WE lined out to short (X)
************** Top of the 7th inning, Tigers batting
3-3 0 --- 12 Knizner struck out (FBSS)
3-3 1 --- 32 Pache grounded a single between first and second (BBCSBX)
Moronta now pitching
3-3 1 1-- 00 Bogaerts lined a double down the third base line, Pache
scored (X)
4-3 1 -2- 02 Lowe,B flied out to left, Bogaerts to third (CFX)
4-3 2 --3 30 Goldschmidt was walked intentionally (IIII)
4-3 2 1-3 22 DeJong grounded out to second (BCFBX)
************** Bottom of the 7th inning, Indians batting
Martinez,C now pitching
Carlson pinch hitting for Encarnacion
4-3 0 --- 12 Carlson struck out (BFFS)
4-3 1 --- 11 Anderson,Bri homered deep down the left-field line (BFX)
4-4 1 --- 12 Acuna Jr. struck out (BFFFC)
4-4 2 --- 02 Torres,G struck out (CSS)
************** Top of the 8th inning, Tigers batting
Claudio now pitching
4-4 0 --- 21 Cave lined a single to shallow center (CBBX)
4-4 0 1-- 32 Myers,W walked, Cave to second (BBCCBB)
Brosseau pinch hitting for Kipnis
Trivino now pitching
4-4 0 12- 22 Brosseau was hit by a pitch, Cave to third, Myers,W to
second (FBBFH)
4-4 0 123 32 Knizner walked, Cave scored, Myers,W to third, Brosseau
to second (CBBBSB)
5-4 0 123 11 Pache lined a single to left, Myers,W scored, Brosseau to
third, Knizner to second (CBX)
Gsellman now pitching
6-4 0 123 12 Bogaerts struck out (BSFS)
6-4 1 123 32 Lowe,B struck out (FBBBFS)
6-4 2 123 00 Goldschmidt flied out to right (X)
************** Bottom of the 8th inning, Indians batting
Brosseau moved to second base
6-4 0 --- 22 Realmuto struck out (BBFSS)
6-4 1 --- 21 Renfroe homered deep to left center (FBBX)
Clase now pitching
6-5 1 --- 12 Correa struck out (CBSS)
Pomeranz now pitching
6-5 2 --- 00 Kepler flied out to right (X)
************** Top of the 9th inning, Tigers batting
Cleavinger now pitching
6-5 0 --- 21 DeJong grounded out to short (BCBX)
6-5 1 --- 00 Cave grounded a single between third and short (X)
Whitley,K now pitching
6-5 1 1-- 00 Myers,W flied out to right (X)
6-5 2 1-- 00 Whitley,K threw a wild pitch, Cave to second (1B)
6-5 2 -2- 22 Brosseau flied out to center (1B.BCFX)
************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Indians batting
Leclerc now pitching
6-5 0 --- 30 Contreras,WE walked (BBBB)
6-5 0 1-- 32 Carlson walked, Contreras,WE to second (BSBBSB)
6-5 0 12- 00 Anderson,Bri popped out on a bunt to the mound (Xb)
6-5 1 12- 32 Acuna Jr. walked, Contreras,WE to third, Carlson to
second (CBBBSB)
Alvarado,J now pitching
6-5 1 123 21 Torres,G lined a single to shallow center, Contreras,WE
scored, Carlson scored, Acuna Jr. to second (BBFX)