Orioles 2 - 1 Tigers
Final
  for this game

Tigers hope to stave off elimination, as ALDS shifts to Detroit

Oct 5, 2014 - 12:03 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - History may not be on the Detroit Tigers' side, but they are willing to take their chances with a former American League Cy Young Award winner on the hill.

Detroit hands the ball to David Price on Sunday when the Tigers try to stave off elimination against the Baltimore Orioles, as the American League Division Series shifts to Comerica Park for Game 3.

Baltimore, which will be trying to punch its ticket to the ALCS for the first time since 1997, has taken advantage of Detroit's beleaguered bullpen to win the first two games.

Against relievers not named Anibal Sanchez, the Orioles have managed 11 runs on eight hits in just 1 2/3 innings. Tigers righty Joba Chamberlain has been the main culprit and is pitching to an obscene 108.0 ERA in the series.

"If we have a lead in the eighth inning on Sunday," said manager Brad Ausmus, "we're going to have to find somebody."

The Tigers may not need any help from their relievers on Sunday, as Price has thrown the most complete games (9) in the AL over the last three years in the regular season and postseason.

"This is the time you want to be able to step up for your team, for your fan base, for the city of Detroit," Price said Saturday. "This is a special moment, to be able to go out there and throw my game, and that's what I plan on doing."

Price, though, has a 5.81 ERA in his last four postseason starts, dating back to 2010 and has yet to go past seven innings in a playoff start.

The left-hander was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the non-waiver deadline and was inconsistent with the Tigers, going 4-4 with a 3.59 ERA.

Baltimore counters with right-hander Bud Norris, who won 15 games this season and went 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in September. However, he was 0-2 with a 6.39 ERA in two starts against Detroit this season.

"I've pitched in some big games in my career. This obviously might be the biggest," Norris said. "But as far as I'm concerned, it's another 60 feet, 6 inches. I'm just going to go out there and compete and pitch as best I can."

There have been 44 teams to go up 2-0 in a Division Series since the current format began in 1995 and only five have lost the series.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was on the losing end in that situation, though, when his New York Yankees won the first two games of the ALDS in 1995 only to lose three in a row to Seattle.

Showalter has never advanced to the ALCS.

These two teams have never met one another in the postseason, but the Tigers were 5-1 against the O's in the regular season.






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