Tigers starter lefthander Nate Robinson pitched 5 shutout innings allowing 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4 before turning the game over to a bullpen of heavy heat as the Tigers defeated the Oakland Athletics in game 1 of their ALCS match-up in Oakland.

Detroit broke out on top with 2 runs in the 3rd inning on 3rd baseman Brandon Inge’s solo shot to leftfield and an RBI single by rightfielder RBI single by rightfielder  Magglio Ordonez both with 2 out after Oakland lefthander and losing pitcher Barry Zito retired the first 8 hitters he faced.  

Detroit then followed in the 4th with 3 more runs off of Zito as catcher Ivan Rodriguez smashed a solo shot to rightfield, Inge drove in a run with a 1 out double and 2nd baseman Placido Polanco hit a 2 out RBI single to close out the Tiger’s scoring.  Zito was yanked with 2 out in the 3rd inning and the A’s bullpen got the side out in the  4th inning and shut down the Tgers the rest of the way on 4 hits and 2 walks.   Zito, who threw but 31 pitches through the 1st 2 innings, threw 61 pitches in the 3rd and 4th innings before being pulled for relief.

In the meantime, winning pitcher Robinson held the A’s at bay for 5 innings before the Detroit bullpen of Fernando Rodney,  Joel Zumaya and closer Todd Jones held off Oakland the rest of the way, each bringing heavier 90s to over 100 mph heat than his predecessor.

Oakland was 3 up, 3 down only once in the game, on a 2nd inning double play as A’s got at least 1 man on via hit or walk in each of the other 8 innings. 

The A’s scored their 1 run in the 8th after rightfielder Milton Bradley doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to 3rd base on a groundout to shortstop and scored on leftfielder Jay Payton’s RBI groundout to the pitcher.

For full recap, box score and play-by-plays of Tuesday’s AL League Championship Series game, click here.

In game 2 of the ALCS on Wednesday in Oakland, Detroit’s Justin Verlander opposes Oakland’s Esteban Loaiza.

The National League LCS begins on Wednesday as Jeff Weaver goes for the St. Louis Cardinals in their opener vs lefthander Tom Glavine for the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

For full box scores and play-by-plays on Wednesday’s games click here.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 11th, 2006 at 8:37 am and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary, All Time Pitching Highlights, Post-Season Highlights. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.