# So many little moments add up for Detroit Tigers in massive win over Houston Astros
The Tigers won the series against the Astros and will try for the sweep on Wednesday, Aug. 20. A win would give the Tigers the tiebreaker against the Astros, if the Tigers win the AL Central, the Astros win the AL West and they somehow finish tied in overall record. (Tuesday’s win gave the Tigers the virtual edge; even with a loss Wednesday to even the season series at 3-3, the Tigers should have the second tiebreaker – division record – well in hand.)
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“We want to win games and win series, and it’s the same message,” Hinch said. “It’s boring, it’s old, it’s redundant.”
Oh, and one other thing: It’s working.
Ironic, no?
The guy with the calm heartbeat won this game after a night that was filled with heart-stopping moments.
There were some great defensive plays. Huge strikeouts. And clutch pitching out of the bullpen.
“In these type games, when you have two of the best in the league going, every at bat is magnified,” Hinch said. “Every mistake is magnified. Every play seems like it’s worth double.”
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They won because of a toe. In the third inning, Trey Sweeney fielded a ball cleanly at short but threw wild to first, nearly pulling Torkelson off the bag. But Torkelson kept his toe down – on the outfield side of the bag – for the out.
They won because of so many tiny plays. Like Dingler giving Skubal a breather in the sixth inning after Skubal ran to cover first on the next play after Tork’s toe-down. Dingler just wanted to let Skubal catch his breath. Then, Skubal responded by striking out Jose Altuve, who looked screwed into the ground in trying to swing at a high slider as his helmet popped off.
Change any of those plays – any of those moments – and this game might have flipped.
But this team made those plays, delivering in the big moments.
And finally, they won because of outstanding relief pitching.
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Look how far they’ve come. Look at the growth they’ve showed.
Maybe some fans freaked out when they went through their no-good, very-bad July, losing 12 of 13 around the All-Star break.
But since snapping the second of their two six-game skids, they have gone 15-7, including winning seven of their last nine. Tuesday’s win locked in their 26th series victory and improved their record to 75-53, the AL’s best record (by half a game over the Toronto Blue Jays).
Look how far they’ve come. Look how much they have grown. Look how far they have climbed.
Even when they walk.
LHP Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.01), Astros: He’s been a little wobbly this month, for his lofty standards. In three starts, he’s given up 12 earned runs in 18.1 innings with six walks. The challenge, always against him and his dastardly sinker-curveball-slider mix, is to elevate baseballs. His 61% ground ball rate is elite and, cause and effect, so is homer rate (nine in 152.1 innings) and low slugging percentage against (.339).
