Well, that couldn't have worked out better for the A's in an elimination game scenario. The question mark starting pitcher is brilliant and gives his team the most ideal setup it could have wanted: a lead going into the seventh inning. The three most important relievers cloned what they accomplished in the signature final series of the regular season, a scoreless inning each with little doubt and crowd-inciting intensity. Couple the mound work with just enough offensive production, two fantastic defensive plays, and suddenly, the A's sent the Detroit Tigers a message they won't give in this easily after a 2-0 win that frankly was a must-do for psyches and ulcers considering the Oakland franchise was working on a six-game playoff losing streak, all versus Detroit.
Brett Anderson made his case for ensuring he'll be the team's No. 1 starter for 2013 and beyond with six flawless innings. And the three-headed monster of Ryan Cook, Sean Doolittle and Grant Balfour show signs of being a modern-day version of a trio of relievers that broke the hearts of A's fans 22 fall classics ago.
But don't get the wrong idea: Detroit is still in command of this best-of-5 series. The Tigers' margin for error remains intact and have to think they'll fare better at the plate than Tuesday's four hits and 11 strikeouts. Prince Fielder alone has to believe he'll have some balls fall in Game 4 after he was robbed twice of potential game-changing hits, once by Coco Crisp, again by Yoenis Cespedes.
And A's fans have to feel a little nervous with A.J. Griffin taking the mound in Game 4 after he was ineffective and made an early exit in the regular-season finale before his teammates threw him a lifeline with a spirited comeback. Still, the A's made sure this series is indeed a series. More tomorrow before Game 4. Tonight, feel comforted that the Athletics understood what they had to do and extended the season by at least one more game.
Oakland may yet lose this series. But this bunch is not going to make Detroit feel like it's an easy path to the American League Championship Series.
Brett Anderson made his case for ensuring he'll be the team's No. 1 starter for 2013 and beyond with six flawless innings. And the three-headed monster of Ryan Cook, Sean Doolittle and Grant Balfour show signs of being a modern-day version of a trio of relievers that broke the hearts of A's fans 22 fall classics ago.
But don't get the wrong idea: Detroit is still in command of this best-of-5 series. The Tigers' margin for error remains intact and have to think they'll fare better at the plate than Tuesday's four hits and 11 strikeouts. Prince Fielder alone has to believe he'll have some balls fall in Game 4 after he was robbed twice of potential game-changing hits, once by Coco Crisp, again by Yoenis Cespedes.
And A's fans have to feel a little nervous with A.J. Griffin taking the mound in Game 4 after he was ineffective and made an early exit in the regular-season finale before his teammates threw him a lifeline with a spirited comeback. Still, the A's made sure this series is indeed a series. More tomorrow before Game 4. Tonight, feel comforted that the Athletics understood what they had to do and extended the season by at least one more game.
Oakland may yet lose this series. But this bunch is not going to make Detroit feel like it's an easy path to the American League Championship Series.
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