8 crucial moments from Saturday's Tigers-A's ALDS Game 2
After a well-pitched contest in Game 1, the Athletics and Tigers stepped it up in Game 2. Sonny Gray and Justin Verlander turned in a classic pitchers' duel that ended in a dramatic walk-off victory for the A's. Let's GIF it up!
Omar Infante fouled one off in the second that smacked on-deck hitter Don Kelly in the solar plexus. Maybe Kelly left the team dinner without paying his tab earlier?
Sonny Gray, who pitched eight scoreless innings with nine K's, flashed his dominance early, striking out Austin Jackson, Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera in the third:
But Justin Verlander, who K'd 11 over seven scoreless, wasn't about to be upstaged. He dialed up three K's of his own in the fourth, and they were all looking:
The Tigers were threatening in the fifth, before Gray and catcher Stephen Vogt came up with a strikeout/throwout double play:
With runners on first and third in the seventh, the A's were threatening. Vogt battled admirably, but ultimately fell victim to Verlander after 10 pitches:
But Vogt got another shot. After a Yoenis Cespedes single, a Seth Smith single and a Josh Reddick intentional walk, the catcher sent the Oakland faithful home happy with a walk-off knock:
And it wouldn't be a dramatic A's win without a pieing and Gatorade shower: