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American League Championship Series Game 2: Tigers @ Red Sox

It's Max Scherzer against Clay Buchholz as the Tigers try to send the Red Sox into a 2-0 deficit in the American League Championship Series. The game airs on FOX.

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Remember the mantra: to hell with Boston in all sports situations. At some point, perhaps when the bearded tide washed across the land, perhaps when they became the whiniest whiners who ever whined, perhaps when it became clear that their success was fueled by either undetectable drugs or Satanic power, the Red Sox even became the more hate-able team in a match-up with the Yankees.

They are in a 1-0 hole after losing 1-0 last night, nearly being no-hit by a group of Tigers pitchers led by Anibal Sanchez. Tonight, a likely interminable game will be pitched by Clay Buchholz, who will never stop making me angry because of his second MLB start. He gets to go up against probable Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer. Of course, the regular season doesn't matter at all. Tonight, the only thing that matters is one game, that being tonight's game.

Will Red Sox hitters maintain their flawless record of believing that a strike has never been thrown to them that they did not swing at? Will Red Sox pitchers maintain the same flawless record of believing they have never thrown a ball? (Note: This does not apply about Koji Uehara, who actually never has thrown a ball.) Will Miguel Cabrera die on the basepaths or when attempting to field a ball at third base?

Most importantly, can the Tigers send the Red Sox into a 2-0 deficit even as the series heads back to Detroit on Tuesday?


BOSTON RED SOX DETROIT TIGERS
Jacoby Ellsbury (L) - CF Austin Jackson (R) - CF
Shane Victorino (S) - RF Torii Hunter (R) - RF
Dustin Pedroia (R) - 2B Miguel Cabrera (R) - 3B
David Ortiz (L) - DH Prince Fielder (L) - 1B
Mike Carp (L) - 1B Victor Martinez (S) - DH
Jonny Gomes (R) - LF Jhonny Peralta (R) - SS
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (S) - C Alex Avila (L) - C
Stephen Drew (L) - SS Omar Infante (R) - 2B
Will Middlebrooks (R) - 3B Don Kelly (L) - LF