ALCS NOTES
DETROIT – So what was the turning point for the Tigers? Kenny Rogers said it was the rainout at Yankee Stadium in Game 2 and the next day’s 4-3 victory that gave his team confidence and evened the AL Division Series at 1-1.
The Tigers have won seven straight, three to KO the Yankees and four for the A’s.
“That definitely made an impact,” Rogers said last night after the Tigers swept away the A’s 6-3 at Comerica Park to win the American League pennant. “It was our first win, and getting that one under your belt kind of showed that you belonged, and I think that helped us tremendously. And then the third game [a 6-0 win]. You just want to ride that momentum as far as you can, and so far we have. We have a few days to relish what we’ve done but we want to finish this thing off.
“It’s a great story up to this point, but we want to go all the way.”
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Magglio Ordonez thought his timing stunk.
“I left the White Sox one year early,” said the free agent who signed with the Tigers last year then his old team won the World Series. “But I told my family the Tigers were going to get to the World Series sooner or later, and it was sooner.”
Ordonez’s timing was perfect last night. He blasted the walk-off, three-run homer off Huston Street to send the Tigers to the World Series. That was Ordonez’s second home run on the night.
“I’m really happy,” Ordonez said. “It was so exciting running around the bases, I just wanted to get to home plate.”
Rogers also was one of the happiest players in the Tigers clubhouse. The previous time the Tigers were in the World Series (1984), he was two years into his minor-league career with the Rangers.
“It’s amazing that I’m still here,” Rogers said. “I’m just so thankful that I’m here. This city has really opened up its heart to me.”
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Anybody see Frank Thomas? He finished 0-for-13 in the ALCS. The Tigers pitchers busted him inside to get him off the plate then painted the outside corners.
Thomas wasn’t alone. Marco Scutaro was 1-for-15 and Nick Swisher went 1-for-10. Thomas struck out four times after striking out once against the Twins.
