The Tigers just need to survive the 11th inning. Keep the score 3-3 after 11 innings if they possibly can.
Tigers’ Mission: Survive Bottom Of 11th Inning
Well, they need to do more than that. They need to survive the 11th and eventually score, because if they don’t score they probably won’t win.
But looking ahead, the bottom of the 11th feels like the most dangerous inning for them.
The Rangers have already used their best relievers: Alexi Ogando, Neftali Feliz and Mike Adams, who have combined for four scoreless innings. (Maybe Adams can pitch in the 12th, or maybe not, but he's thrown 22 pitches and the last few of them were expended against Miguel Cabrera -- hardly a low-stress mark -- who finally drove a fly ball almost to the wall in right-center field.)
The Tigers have used their best relievers, too. But Adams pitched the top of the 11th, while it looks like the bottom of the 11th will be pitched by Ryan Perry, who acquitted himself well in the Division Series but certainly isn’t Adams’ equal.
If the Tigers can survive the 11th they’ll be disadvantaged, because their bullpen’s not as deep and their lineup’s not as strong and they’re playing in enemy territory. But if the 12th inning should dawn, it will at least seem something of a fair fight.
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