6 key moments from Thursday's Tigers-Athletics ALDS Game 5

Four games weren't enough to find a winner in the Tigers-Athletics edition of the ALDS; thus, Thursday saw the series reach its deciding Game 5. Would Sonny Gray match the excellence of his first postseason start? Would Miguel Cabrera go yard this series? Would these pictures of Kate Upton distract Justin Verlander?

Let's head to the GIFs:

In the Game 2 rematch between Gray and Verlander, Gray blinked first -- walking Prince Fielder to start the top of the second. He and his fellow Game 2 hero, catcher Stephen Vogt, teamed up to limit the damage with a nifty "strike 'em out, throw 'em out" double play.

In the fourth inning, Gray faltered again, allowing Torii Hunter to reach on a single up the middle. Then, in the next at-bat, Miguel Cabrera stepped up to the plate and --

Miggy, take it away:

Yeah. That's a two run homer. 

While Gray struggled in the top half, Verlander dealt in the bottom. The former Cy Young and MVP Award winner was perfect through five innings before walking Josh Reddick in the bottom of the sixth.

And then, in the seventh, Yoenis Cespedes took away the no-no with this ground ball to center field:

Game 5 wasn't without its own oddities -- A's shortstop Jed Lowrie somehow made solid contact with a pitch in the dirt:

With the Tigers leading 3-0, manager Jim Leyland sent out Joaquin Benoit to start the ninth -- ending Verlander's night with an awesome 10 strikeouts to one walk. Benoit teamed up with Hunter to book Detroit a trip to the ALCS:

Then, the Tigers celebrated their 3-0 Game 5 win in joyful, choreographed ecstasy:

ALCS Game 1 between the Red Sox and Tigers begins on Saturday at Fenway Park.