The Detroit Tigers fought hard last night until the 11th inning when Ryan Perry replaced Jose Valverde in the game. Perry didn’t get anyone out while giving up 4 hits. The last hit he gave up was a Grand Slam by Rangers’ outfielder Nelson Cruz! Max Scherzer started the game and he was solid working 6 innings in which he gave up 6 hits, 3 runs (all earned), while whiffing 6 batters and walking only 1. Phil Coke and Joaquin Benoit combined to work two scoreless innings. Jose Valverde pitched the ninth and the tenth innings without giving up any runs. Ryan Raburn was the star of the game with the bat for the Tigers as he was 1 for 3 with a 3-run homer. Ramon Santiago (2 for 6) and Don Kelly (2 for 2) also pitched in with the bats for the Tigers. The Tigers are now down 2-0 to the Rangers as the series shifts to Detroit.

36-year old righty swinging RF Magglio Ordonez has been removed from the A.L.C.S. roster and is done for the year. He broke his ankle last night against the Rangers in Game #1 of the A.L.C.S. Ordonez played in 1 game in the A.LC.S. and he was 0 for 2 with a walk and a strikeout. Ordonez played in 5 games in this post-season for the Tigers and he was 5 for 13 (.385 avg) with 1 run scored. This will hurt the Tigers who were already without Delmon Young due to injury. This likely means that Ryan Raburn and Don Kelly will be starting in LF and RF the rest of this series.

UPDATE: (10/10/2011) - The Tigers have decided to replace Magglio Ordonez with Delmon Young on the active roster.

The Tigers fought two rain delays and the Rangers’ impressive pitching staff before falling just a tad short last night in Texas. Ramon Santiago was the Tigers’ unlikely hitting star last night as he was 3 for 4 with a double and 1 run scored. Austin Jackson pitched in with the bat as he was 1 for 5 with a double, 1 run scored and 1 RBI. Miguel Cabrera was 1 for 3 last night. Justin Verlander had another tough, rain shortened start for the Tigers last night. He worked the first 4 innings in which he walked 2 batters, gave up 5 hits and 3 runs (all earned) while whiffing five batters. He was the losing pitcher. Rick Porcello made a surprising appearance (he is scheduled to start Game #4) last night and he looked good in throwing 2 shutout innings allowing 0 hits or walks. Phil Coke pitched to two batters and he got one of them out while the other guy got a hit. Ryan Perry worked the last 1 2/3 innings without allowing a base runner. The Tigers are now down 1-0 to the Rangers in this series.

The Tigers have added 26-year old righty swinging infielder Danny Worth to the A.L.C.S. roster to replace the injured Delmon Young (oblique muscle). Worth played in 30 games for the Tigers during the regular season and he was 10 for 37 (.270 avg, .632 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 0 homers and 3 RBIs. Worth has now played in 69 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 37 for 143 (.259 avg, .648 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 2 homers, 11 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

Starting LF Delmon Young has been left off the roster for the A.L.C.S. by the Tigers after he injured his oblique muscle in Game #5 against the Yankees. It’s not known yet whether or not Young would be ready to play in the World Series, should the Tigers make it. Young played in all 5 games against the Yankees and he was 6 for 19 (.316 avg, 1.170 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 3 homers and 3 RBIs. Young will likely be replaced by a platoon of righty swinging Ryan Raburn and lefty swinging Don Kelly. Raburn will likely get most of the work in this series as the Rangers will have three lefty starters and only one righty. Raburn played in 3 games against the Yankees and he was 2 for 5 (.400 avg, .800 OPS) with 1 RBI. Don Kelly played in 4 games against the Yankees and he was 4 for 11 (.364 avg, 1.000 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. The Tigers are going to miss Young a little bit as he was red hot with the bat against the Yankees. But, Raburn and Kelly are productive players and that should lessen the blow of losing Young a little bit.

UPDATE: (10/10/2011) - The Tigers have added Delmon Young to the A.L.C.S. roster to replace the injured Magglio Ordonez.