World Series Game 3: '06-DET 11, '77-LA 3

Game 3 showcased Rick Rhoden (5-2 with 3.54) of LA facing Justin Verlander (1-4 with 5.28) of Detroit. Detroit was looking for answers – and boy did they find them in this game.

Detroit opened up the game in the bottom 2nd inning, where they scored 5 runs on 4 hits and 2 Walks. Thames led off the inning with a Single, Rodriguez then Walked and Casey smacked a Double to score Thames – all with no outs. Ganderson scored Rodriguez on a Fielder’s Choice – and moved Casey to Third, who eventually scored himself on a Single from Infante. Then, Carlos Guillen Walked and Craig Monroe went on to Single as well. After the dust settled, Detroit had a rousing 5-0 lead. The fireworks for Detroit did not end there. In the bottom 3rd inning, Rhoden was rocked again by Detroit for 2 more runs when Rodriguez Singled and scored on a Single from Infante – and Granderson (who Walked) scored on a SAC fly from Guillen. Detroit quickly led 7-0 and now had LA looking for answers. None came for LA, as Justin Verlander pitched a masterpiece by going the distance giving up 6 hits and 3 runs, which only 2 were earned. LA got 2 of their runs in the 4th inning when Baker Singled and scored for LA, and then Yeager reached base on an Inge error and scored on a Garvey Double. LA would score their 3rd and final run of the game in the 9 inning, when Hale smacked a solo shot. As for Detroit, they scored again the 6th inning, when Infante reach base on an error from Bill Russell and scored on an Ordonez Fielder’s Choice. Detroit would also score a run in the 7th inning off a solo shot from Monroe and another 2 runs in the 8th inning when Monroe Tripled Inge Home and then scored on a Thames Fielder’s Choice. Rhoden lasted all of 5 innings and was rocked for 8 runs – then Hough came in and was roughed up for 3 more runs. No surprise real there. Detroit easily took Game 3 with a final score of 11-3 – and were now looking to even things up heading into Game 4. Craig Monroe took the Game MVP by going 3-for-5, scoring 2 runs, and getting 3 RBI’s