:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21284989/184245615.0.jpg)
Anibal Sanchez will take the mound for the Detroit Tigers against Jon Lester and the Boston Red Sox in a pivotal Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Sanchez notched 12 strikeouts in six hitless innings in the Tigers' 1-0 victory in Boston in Game 1. It was a huge improvement over his first start of the postseason, which saw the 29-year-old right-hander allow five earned runs and three home runs in 4⅓ innings in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics.
Lester was no slouch in Game 1, either. He surrendered one run on six hits in 6⅓ innings while striking out four. The lone run came on a bloop single off the bat of Jhonny Peralta. Lester was also on his game in the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, tossing 7⅔ innings of two-run ball while striking out seven in a win on Oct. 4.
Joe Buck and Tim McCarver will be in the booth for first pitch, which is slated for 8:07 p.m.
More from SB Nation MLB:
• Power surge keeps Dodgers alive | More NLCS coverage
• Tigers find bats, even series at 2-2 | More ALCS coverage
• Neyer: Red Sox "neighborhood play" worst blown call of the month
• Goldman: Aaron Boone and the anniversary of much regret
• Meet Sir Bam Bam, who may be the future of big league managing