The Tigers win Tuesday is the kind teams that reach the postseason routinely procure.
A really good outing by the starting pitcher (Doug Fister), a gutsy call by the manager that turns out for the best (Jim Leyland using setup man Joaquin Benoit instead of closer Jose Valverde in the ninth inning of a tie game at home) and improbable heroes (slumping Magglio Ordonez delivering the tying hit with two outs and backup infielder Ramon Santiago a walk-off home run).
And the meaning of the victory. If the Tigers had lost it would have been their third straight defeat against clubs considerably below .500. The White Sox would have just been four games back.
Huge win. Certainly one of the biggest of the season, and perhaps the best sign yet the Tigers won't collapse down the stretch this time.