Sweep!

I just watched the highlights from the third and last game of the Indians-Tigers series from this weekend. After beating the Tribe 4-1 and 10-1, and then getting off to a 7-0 lead today, things got a little hairy. The Tigers finally prevailed 8-7, with Jose Valverde getting his 37th straight save with a big heap of help from Austin Jackson, who nailed a Cleveland runner trying to score on a sacrifice fly to end the game.

The Tigers are now up 4 1/2 games on Cleveland, in what is fast becoming one of only two meaningful races in baseball (the other is the N.L. West). Some contributors this weekend were names that weren't even on the team a week ago. Brandon Inge, who wasn't hitting his weight and striking out almost every at bat, returned from a stint in Triple A to hit a home run on Saturday, and Delmon Young, recently acquired from the Twins, blasted his second home run in six games for the Tigers, though he had four all year for Minnesota.

It was pointed out in an article in The New York Times today that since their World Series appearance in 2006, the Tigers have below a .500 wining percentage after the all-star break. This year they will certainly have to be on guard for collapses. Verlander, who has been nearly unbeatable this year, can't do it all himself. Rick Porcello, tagged today, has some problems to work out with his sinker. It is imperative that the starting rotation past Verlander provide some victories, or it may be deja vu all over again.