This 3-game series between the Indians and Tigers was clearly the Tribe's last stand.
Needing a sweep, or, at the very least, 2 victories, the Indians suffered 3 consecutive defeats as the Tigers inched closer to a postseason berth.
Shelley Duncan launched a pair of 2-run homers off Justin Verlander to provide Justin Masterson with a 4-2 advantage through 6 innings of play.
Masterson, though, quickly found himself in a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 7th after Austin Jackson singled, Will Rhymes reached base via Duncan's fielding error, and Andy Dirks bunted for an infield single. Manny Acta then yanked Masterson, but Joe Smith promptly yielded a RBI single to Miguel Cabrera. Acta again made a pitching change, and this time he summoned Tony Sipp from the bullpen. Sipp's 1st pitch, a fastball to Victor Martinez, was belted over the left field wall.
That grand slam would prove to be the knockout punch.
Despite Lonnie Chisenhall's 2-run laser shot in the bottom of the 7th, the Tigers broke out the brooms and swept away the Indians' playoff dreams.
The winning hurler was Verlander, who notched his league-leading 22nd W.
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| Duncan's 2 home runs were not enough |
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