Can't call 'em Chokeland!

Game 1 - Oak Col

E.Wilson vs Blue

Tigers 5, A's 1

Detroit exploded for 4 runs in the 5th to shockingly rock Vida Blue's world.  Gibby led off the inning with a rare lefty vs lefty HR.  RBI singles by Pat Sheridan and Alan Trammell sandwiched an RBI double by Sweet Lou Whitaker.  Earl Wilson went the distance for the "W".

GAME 2

Podres vs Hunter

A's 7, Tigers 1

Catfish Hunter weaseled in and out of trouble until he

found a problem he couldn't over come...bad umpiring.  With one out in the 8th a 3-1 offering to Gibby was called ball 4.  Everyone in the house thought it was a strike, including Gibby who didn't even bother to stroll to first.  When the ball 4 signal was given Hunter approached the plate and began ripping into home plate ump Frank Umont, who was in his 19th season in blue.  Hunter said the magic word and Umont showed him to the shower.  Rollie Fingers had to come in without warmups and did just fine getting the final 5 outs in a non save situation.  Utility man Lance Blankenship was a perfect 3 for 3 from the plate with a homer.  DH Harold Baines was also perfect (3-3).  Baines added 2 runs and 2 RBI's to the ledger.

GAME 3 - Tiger Stad.

Dobson vs McLain

A's 7, Tigers 5

The rubber match of the series turned out to be the only toss up game of the 3.  If you like action, this was the type of game you crave with the lead changing hands 4 times.  After both teams exchanged solo runs in the first the hometown Tigers got a 2 out 3 run blast from Gibby to take a 4-1 lead.  Oakland cut the lead to 4-2 on a Big Mac homer in the 4th.  Back to back jacks by Canseco and Baines in the 5th tied the game at 4.  A leadoff blast by Tram in the home half of the 5th put Motown back up by 1.  That lead was short lived as RBI singles from Rickey Henderson and Mike Bordick put Oakland up by 1.  The A's would add a solo run in the 9th on a ground out by Dave Henderson.  Darold, "Don't call me Beyonce" Knowles and Bob Locker combined to get the final 10 outs in relief of a barely effective Dobson.  Locker wound up with the save.  Oakland moved to 5-6, while the Tigers dropped to 8-3.