Tigers send A's packing

[60'sfan]

Justin Verlander brought his "A" game last night and the A's were helpless. However, they did not seem to have any plan to deal with him. Cabrera was clearly less than 100% at third and they made no attempt to exploit that. It seemed like they were all trying to hit a three-run homer with no one on base. I was imagining what the Sox might have done against him. I could see Jacoby bunting down the third base line and Victorino crowding the plate and taking one for the team. The way he was throwing we might still have lost but sometimes you have to alter your approach.

 

[Cheddie]

Great example of how pitching wins playoffs. I'm sure the A's had Verlander well scouted. But the Tigers also had the A's scouted and Verlander is a very smart pitcher. Best thing for the Sox - he threw 111 pitches and he won't pitch again until the 3rd game.