World Series Game 4: '06-DET 10, '77-LA 4

Game 4 had LA turning to Tommy John (7-1 with 2.38) while Detroit sent in Kenny Rogers (5-4 with 4.09). It would appear that Detroit was taking a “gamble” on Kenny Rogers, who was facing an LA “ace”.

LA opened the game in the top 1st inning, when Steve Garvey reached base on an error from Carlos Guillen and eventually scored on a Dusty Baker Single. LA would score again in the top 3rd inning, when Lopes led off with a Walk and scored on a Baker SAC fly. Detroit scored a run of their own in the bottom 3rd inning, when Sean Casey hit a solo shot – and Detroit cut the LA lead 2-1. In the top 4th inning, LA went back to work. Reggie Smith reached base on another Guillen error and scored on a Bill Russell Fielder’s Choice – and Dave Lopes, who Singled, scored on a Garvey Single, and LA expanded their lead to 4-1. In the bottom 4th inning, Guillen Walked and scored on a Triple by Ordonez. Ordonez then went on to score on a Inge SAC fly – and Detroit closed the gap to 4-3 after 4 innings of play. Both pitchers were a little shaky, and Detroit compounded their problems by committing 4 errors (3 of them by Guillen) – but both pitchers then settled down. John went on to pitch shutout ball for the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings. Rodgers pitched shutout ball for the 5th and 6th innings but was then replaced by Rodney who also pitched scoreless ball for the 7th and 8th innings. Heading into the bottom 8th inning and still behind 4-3, Detroit got another wake up call. Granderson hit a 2-run blast with Rodriguez on base. Then, John surrendered 3 Singles to Infante, Ordonez, and Thames and 3 Doubles to Inge, Monroe, and Rodriguez (who came to bat a second time that inning), and Detroit ripped open the game with 7 runs off John in that 8th inning. Detroit led 10-4 going into the top 9th inning – and Todd Jones came in to shut the door on LA. Detroit won the game 10-4 and evened up the series at 2 games a piece. The Game MVP went to Curtis Granderson who broke the game open with his 2-run HR in the 8th inning. The pitching domination that LA had in Games 1 and 2 was now gone. Detroit was here to play – and they were not going down that easy. LA saw their hopes of a Championship slowly fading with another game set to be played in Detroit.