The Tigers hold a 3-0 lead over the Athletics in the final game of the ALDS but two-time Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander has been untouchable, keeping the Athletics hitless through six innings
ALDS Game 5, Tigers vs. Athletics: Justin Verlander has no-hitter through 6 innings
Justin Verlander has held the Athletics hitless through six innings and holds a 3-0 lead in Game 5 of the ALDS.
Verlander has featured a dominating mix of fastballs in the 95-97 mph range and his devastating change through the first six innings. With that arsenal and excellent control, the Tigers righty had rung up six strike outs and kept all 15 Athletics faced off base heading into the sixth inning. With one out, Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick was able to draw a walk to become the first Oakland base runner of the night. Reddick then advanced to scoring position with some heads up base running on a Stephen Vogt fly out, but Verlander shut down the Athletics' rally quickly, getting Coco Crisp to fly out to end the inning.
The Tigers gave their near-perfect pitcher an additional run to work with in the sixth inning after Miguel Cabrera's two-run home run in the fourth put them on the board. Athletics starter Sonny Gray allowed two singles to lead off the inning before he was replaced by reliever Dan Otero. The reliever allowed one inherited run to score on an Omar Infante groundball. Infante grounded to Oakland third baseman Josh Donaldson, but second baseman Alberto Callaspo mishandled the throw, costing Oakland a possible run-saving double play.
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