Tigers need to take advantage of A's starters and avoid bullpen to win series, say national analysts

MLIVE
October 10, 2012
By Brendan Savage

The Oakland A's bullpen was less-than-stellar Sunday in a 5-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 of the ALDS.

But if the Tigers want to win the series, they're going to have to keep the game out of the hands of the A's relievers and do some damage against Oakland's starting pitchers, according to a pair of national baseball analysts.

After dropping the first two games in Detroit, the A's climbed back into the series Tuesday night with a 2-0 victory in Oakland. Starter Brett Anderson allowed just two hits in six innings before Ryan Cook, Sean Doolittle and Grant Balfour came out of the bullpen to finish it off.

"If you're Detroit, you have to realize 'We better beat the starters because they couldn't beat Anderson and they're not hitting that bullpen," ESPN analyst John Kruk said on Baseball Tonight. "They're dominating the Tigers lineup."

Well, at least they did in Game 3. Not so much in Game 2, however.

During Game 2, all three of the aforementioned relievers allowed at least one run as the Tigers rallied for a 5-4 victory to sweep both games at Comerica Park.

But seeing the bullpen respond in Game 3 changed the mind of ESPN analyst Doug Glanville.

"I picked a sweep for the Tigers" after Game 2, Glanville said. "But after watching their bullpen respond after falling apart in Game 2 – they gave up runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to lose in Detroit – I liked what I saw from Balfour.

"Everybody is fired up. I think they can squeeze out a Game 4 victory. Going to Oakland is a nightmare. Those fans are hard core. If you can get that momentum going it can change things."

Glanville's analysis is spot on, according to Balfour, who recorded his 19th straight save after facing Omar Infante, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder in the ninth inning.

"We didn't get the job done the other day," Balfour said in the Oakland Tribune. "But we're back home, we feel comfortable here, and it's great pitching in front of these fans."

Republished from the twitter.com/BrendanSavage

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