Scherzer gets his second win of the ALDS

DETROIT -- For one night, Max Scherzer, the only 20-game winner in the majors, came out of the bullpen to save the day in Game 4 of the American League division series vs. the Oakland Athletics.

And he did so in a very unconventional, Todd Jones-like manner. Hall of Fame Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell nicknamed the Detroit Tigers closer from the 2006 World Series team “Roller-coaster” Jones, and Scherzer made Jones seem like an easy ride to the final out.

Scherzer got out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam in the eighth inning that made him the winning pitcher in Tuesday night’s 8-6 victory. The comeback win forced a decisive Game 5 Thursday night in Oakland.

“It was surreal to be able to get an out in that situation and keep the one-run lead with the bases loaded, no outs in the eighth inning,” Scherzer said. “That’s the stuff you dream of.

"Maybe, it’s not the ninth inning, but that’s the stuff you dream about pitching – bases loaded, eighth inning, no outs. And I was able to do it.”

With the score tied, 3-3, Scherzer came in for starter Doug Fister in the seventh inning and gave up the go-ahead run. But after Victor Martinez hit a solo homer that umpires reviewed for fan interference and Austin Jackson put the Tigers ahead with a broken-bat single, Scherzer was in position for what pitchers term a “vulture” win.

It was his first relief appearance since giving up one run in 1 1/3 innings in Game 5 of the 2011 ALDS against the New York Yankees, and he struggled again this time.

Scherzer walked lead-off hitter Brandon Moss to start the eighth inning before Yoenis Cespedes doubled. Scherzer was ordered to intentionally walk Seth Smith, loading the bases with nobody out.

Pitching coach Jeff Jones came out to the mound for a brief confab, hoping to say something to stem the tide.

Scherzer then quickly fell behind left-handed hitter Josh Redick, 3-1. The tying run was a pitch off the corner away from scoring, but Reddick fouled off the next one to make it a full count and then fouled off another.

Scherzer had thrown him all fastballs but finally got Reddick to chase a low, inside change-up for strike three.

“His change-up’s a little unpredictable,” catcher Alex Avila said. “There’s a lot of movement -- sometimes away from a left-handers and sometimes in on left-handers.

"You feel like a hockey goalie in there.”

Avila caught it, though, and Reddick walked away.

“I was wild tonight,” Scherzer said. “I didn’t have my best command, but when it counted in full counts, I was able to execute some pitches. And that’s what allowed me to be successful.”

Scherzer then got Stephen Vogt to strike out on a 98 mile-per-hour fastball.

There were two down, and the sellout crowd went crazy, waving their white towels in circles.

Alberto Callaspo, a pesky switch-hitter, was called on to pinch-hit for Eric Sogard and battled to another full count. This wasn't going to come easily.

Callaspo finally rapped a soft liner to center, bringing a hush over the sold-out crowd at Comerica Park. But the ball hung and Jackson was able to make a good running catch.

Scherzer thrust his fist and sprinted to the dugout, where he unleashed unbridled joy and pounded the hands and fists of his teammates.

“He’s giving high-fives and leaving some bruises,” Tigers radio play-by-play announcer Dan Dickerson shouted over the roar of the crowd.

Said Avila: “I’ve given him the nickname ‘Mad Max,’ but that was a different level than I’ve ever seen him at.”

Scherzer had done more than dodge a bullet. He avoided a locked-and-loaded shotgun with nary a flesh wound.

“To be able to get out of that jam -- I mean, that’s something I’ll never forget,” Scherzer said. “That’s something I’m not really asked to do, and tonight I was.

"Obviously, skip (Jim Leyland) had the confidence in me to stick with me. I knew the lefties coming up, he might go to (left-hander) Drew Smyly.

“For me, to be able to get those left-handed hitters out in that situation -- that’s something I’ll never forget.”

It was Scherzer's second victory of the ALDS after leading the majors in wins during a 21-3 season.

“I think all Tigers fans and Tigers players would have rather it be three up, three down,” Tigers Game 5 starter Justin Verlander said. “But it made for a great story, didn’t it?

“Pretty intense.”

Jackson goes from scapegoat to hero
The clubhouse was nearly empty Tuesday night when Max Scherzer walked toward the door on his way home, but he had one important stop to make before putting the wraps on a wild night that saw him pull out an unlikely victory.

Scherzer approached center fielder Austin Jackson to show his gratitude.

“Oh, man,” said Scherzer, while wrapping a bear hug around Jackson. “Thank you! Thank you!”

Scherzer was overcome with emotion and hugged Jackson again. It was the kind of hug given when there's fear for well-being, but the person in question shows up just fine.

That’s what Jackson did, breaking a stretch of 13 hitless at-bats, including 10 strikeouts, with the broken-bat single that put Detroit and Scherzer ahead for good.

Jackson was startled by Scherzer’s reaction and said, “You better thank Brookie.”

It was Tigers outfield coach Tom Brookens who had told Jackson to shade pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo in the left-center gap should he come to bat in the eighth inning. That positioning was crucial to a good catch Jackson made to deny Callaspo a bases-loaded single with two outs in the eighth.

“I thought it was down,” Scherzer said of Callaspo’s near hit. “But Austin made a great play to be able to run that down, and that was an unbelievable play.”

It didn’t really matter whether Scherzer was thanking Jackson for his clutch hit or good catch. Scherzer was just happy to see Jackson, who was  booed after each of his three strikeouts Tuesday, succeed and get cheered.

How did the boos affect Jackson?

“It doesn’t affect me,” he said. “If I let that affect me, my head’s not in the game. To be booed, I’m still confident in myself.

"But my teammates pumped me up so I would not get down on myself.”

Extra bases
The game lasted 3 hours and 25 minutes, but it seemed much longer than that for all of its twists and turns and ups and downs.

“It felt like seven hours,” Tigers catcher Alex Avila said with a smile. “That’s how I feel after this game.”

• Miguel Cabrera was limping a bit after sliding spikes-first and trying to catch a Brandon Moss popup near the stands in the first inning, but he played eight innings before Ramon Santiago replaced him at third base for the ninth inning.

Cabrera singled to extend his streak of reaching base to 28 consecutive post-season games.

• Scherzer did more than move from starter to reliever on this night. He also caught former Tigers pitching star Frank Tanana for the first pitch.