You couldn't have asked for a better game 5 with ace pitcher Justin Verlander, who shut down the Oakland A's 6-0 to end the series.
Verlander struck out 11 and allowed two hits while pitching the full nine innings. By going the distance, he saved Tigers fans the nail-biting prospect of seeing one of the team's relievers take the mound. Thank goodness. You can only take so many Jose Valverde moments.
The Tigers will go on to play the winner of the the Yankees-Orioles series, which is tied at 2-2. Those teams play later today.
The Tigers game was played on the same night as the vice presidential debates, which forced some folks to channel surf back and forth.
Just who won the debates was debatable.
But in Oakland the Tigers clearly dominated, keeping alive an ups-and-down season that tested the loyalty of some fans.
After the game, in a televised interview Prince Fielder said of Verlander: "He's the man."
