Brilliant Starts By Justin Verlander, Sonny Gray In Game 2 Do Not Result In Decision, A’s Win Game 2 On Walk-Off

It came as no surprise for many as Detroit Tigers starter Justin Verlander continued his postseason mastery of the Oakland Athletics. Tonight he went seven innings, giving up four hits, struck out 11, walked one and did not allow a run. On the mound for the A’s was Sonny Gray who made his first career playoff start and 11th overall and he matched Verlander pitch-by-pitch. His line for the night eight innings, four hits, struck out nine matching a career-high, walked two and did not allow a run.

For Gray he did get himself into a jam during the second inning when he walked Alex Avila, gave up an infield single to Don Kelly with two outs and got out of the inning by getting Jose Iglesias to hit into the inning ending fielder’s choice to Josh Donaldson who stepped on third. The fifth inning was the best chance for the Tigers to score a run when Omar Infante walked, Kelly grounded out moving Infante up to second, Iglesias singled moving runners to first and third with just one out.

Austin Jackson struck out swinging and Stephen Vogt threw out Iglesias trying to steal second for the double play. In Gray’s final inning the lead off hitter go on via a single, wound up on second after being sacrificed. The rookie did not waver, Jackson struck out and Torii Hunter popped out.

With Verlander he didn’t run into much trouble until he gave up a single to Josh Donaldson in the fourth though there was no scoring opportunity in that inning. Yoenis Cespedes led off the inning with a single, Seth Smith singled before Josh Reddick couldn’t get a bunt down, Vogt struck out and Eric Sogard struck out. Another opportunity presented itself to Oakland in the seventh. Brandon Moss walked, Cespedes lined out to right field with Hunter having difficulty finding the ball in the light before he reached out at the last minute, Smith popped out, Reddick then singled  putting runners on first and third with two outs.

Then it became the at-bat that ended Verlander’s night as Vogt fouled off a number of tough pitches before striking out. Coco Crisp got the opportunity to at least get a runner over to third with only one out in the eighth after Alberto Callaspo hit a pinch hit double off Drew Smyly to start the bottom of the eighth inning. Crisp surprisingly did not bunt and popped out, Jed Lowrie walked and Al Alburquerque came into face both Donaldson and Moss and both struck out.

Manager Bob Melvin went with Grant Balfour in the ninth relieving Gray. He fell behind to Miguel Cabrera yet got him to fly out to Reddick, Prince Fielder flew out to left center and Victor Martinez wound up flying out to right field where Reddick was playing him perfectly.

In the bottom of the ninth Jim Leyland kept Alburquerque in the ball game and he faced Cespedes who singled with the count full, Smith then lined a single past Fielder putting runners at first and third and no outs, Reddick got intentionally walked giving the Athletics a bases loaded situation with Vogt at the plate.

Surprisingly Rick Porcello came out of the bullpen to face the left-handed hitting Vogt who lined a single through the drawn infield to score Cespedes and tied the series up at 1-1. Balfour picked up the win and Alburquerque took the loss.

Game three will be in Detroit on Monday afternoon.

Here’s the clip of Vogt’s walk-off.