A's 12, Tigers 4: Detroit's bullpen unravels

Once upon a time, there was a baseball team. This baseball team needed to win pretty much 90 percent of its remaining games if it really wanted to make the playoffs. But the evil Step Al decided he couldn't do the recap, so the team lost when the cursed Kurt stepped forward with pen in hand.

That was probably my worst and least SEO lede of all time.

In fact, I am actually just going to hide my dog's face so he doesn't feel so embarrassed about being linked to it.

OK, so, Detroit maybe didn't NEED to sweep Oakland, but it would certainly have made life better. Alas, it was not to be. Runs were walked in. Runs were handed over in a poor fielding show by even the most steadfast glove on the team, that of Austin Jackson. Faces were palmed. A bad time was had by Al all.

Detroit led 3-2 as late as the bottom of the fifth inning. Oakland answered with four runs on four hits off Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez and reliever Phil Coke. Of course, two of those runs scored when Austin Jackson misplayed the likely third out into a triple. Then again, the ball seemed to jump away from his glove. Baseball gods, can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

See video, enclosed, for more details. If you are brave or have a stiff upper lip.

Detroit scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the game to 6-4. Still doable.

Oakland scores six runs in the top of the ninth. Not doable.

Let's see: single, single, intentional walk, sacrifice, intentional walk, run walked in, double, double.

Oy.

Well, enough of that.

Onward.

ROARS

Al Alburquerque. 2 1/3 innings, 4 strikeouts. I like.

Andy Dirks homered

Omar Infante had two hits

HISSES

Pitchers. Like, all the rest of them?

PLAYER OF THE GAME FROM THE GOOD GAME BEFORE THIS ONE

Justin Verlander edged Miguel Cabrera by seven votes. We love pitchers. Duh.