MLB Playoffs: Day 14

Although no one outside the four competing cities is paying much attention to the baseball playoffs -- and though the playoffs themselves are somewhat meaningless, given that the two best teams in baseball have already been eliminated -- the actual games are quite good. Yesterday, for example, Detroit found itself in a desperate situation. The Tigers were down 3-1 and they had used up most of their good relief pitchers in an 11-inning loss the night before. Thus, the Tigers were forced to ask Justin Verlander, their ace, to win the game pretty much without help. Like a lot of pitchers who have had spectacular regular seasons (he was 24-5 this year), Verlander has not been all that sharp in the playoffs. And yesterday it took him 133 pitches to make it through 7 1/3 innings. But he was effective enough -- especially since the Tigers' hitherto moribund offense finally got rolling. At one point four consecutive Tiger batters hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run -- the only time four batters have hit for the cycle in post-season play. The Tigers won 7-5 and lived to travel to Texas for game 6.

In the nightcap, the Brewers won their first playoff game on the road since 1982 with a 4-2 victory in St. Louis. This was the 22d game between Milwaukee and St. Louis this year, and the teams are 11-11 against each other. Each has hit 23 home runs against each other. Milwaukee has scored 90 runs against St. Louis; the Cardinals have scored 88 runs against the Brewers. In short, this series is very much up for grabs.

National League Championship Series (Best of 7):
Milwaukee and St. Louis are tied 2-2

American League Championship Series (Best of 7):
Texas leads Detroit 3-2