- The Tigers were kind of at the last-chance corral with moves to make to wake their slumping hitting attack. The last chance was Jhonny Peralta. The importance of his two-run single in the fourth inning can't be overstated. It was the type of moment which can change the course of a playoff series, especially a five-game set..
- Although he didn't exactly rip his base hit in the fourth inning, it was a good at bat for Prince Fielder because he fought so hard after falling behind in the count. No Tigers' player is under more of a microscope right now than Fielder because of his postseason struggles in the past. You kind of get this sense if he doesn't start to deliver, the Tigers' will be knocked out of the playoffs with incredible swiftness.
- A's outfielder Josh Reddick is only going to hurt a pitcher with the velocity and late life of a pitcher like Anibal Sanchez if the pitch is down and in. That's exactly the pitch Sanchez handed to him on a silver platter. Adding to the mistake is that home plate umpire Gary Darling has had a generous pitcher's strike zone today up.
- There wasn't much velocity on Peralta's throw to home plate from left field, but that run would have scored anyway if Andy Dirks were playing left field. Dirks does not throw particularly well. Certainly, the trade off of offense for defense has worked out well for the Tigers so far today.