The Skillz Report

Here, in Part 6 of our 2014 MLB Postseason retrospective, we'll revisit the American League Division Series (DET/BAL).

Andrew Romine's Costly Error, game 1

Though Baltimore's JJ Hardy had opened inning #8 with a bomb and Alejandro De Aza followed it with a double, Detroit's deficit stood at merely two runs—if they could wiggle out of the jam, it was still anybody's game. SP Max Scherzer was replaced by RP Joba Chamberlain; his first hitter was Adam Jones. Jones grounded to Romine at SS, but he couldn't handle it—De Aza scored, as did six more of his teammates in a nightmarish (if you're pro-Tiger) 8th.

JD Guns Steve Pearce, Game 1

JD Martinez was a revelation with the bat all year; today the former Astro castoff flashed some arm for good measure. With two down in the 6th, Baltimore's Pearce ripped a 1-1 Scherzer offering off the LF wall. It caromed on a bounce squarely to Martinez, who heaved a one-hopper to the infield. Though the throw was slightly offline, 2B Ian Kinsler was able to spin-tag Pearce to end the inning. You never make the last out going for an extra base.

Hunter Lines Into DP, Game 1

In the 8th inning of Game 1, Detroit—down 4-2—kicked off a rally. Kinsler singled off former Texas teammate Darren O'Day. Up next: All-Star Torii Hunter, still dangerous at age 38. On a 2-2 pitch, Hunter lined squarely to O's SS Hardy, who doubled off Kinsler to squelch the rally just like that. Adding insult to injury, superstar Tiger Miguel Cabrera followed with a home run.

JD/Castellanos Back-To-Back, Game 2

Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen only lasted 3.2 innings in Game 2—largely because the dangerous Detroit lineup continued its' air assault on Oriole pitching. The Tigers (who smacked three solo homers in Game 1) opened the 4th with five straight hits off Chen—the final two of which were homers by JD Martinez and Nick Castellanos. The former was a three-run, go-ahead shot; the latter was an impressive oppo drive over the high RF wall at Camden Yards.

Ryan Flaherty's Nice DP, Game 2

He's only playing because Manny Machado can't—and he's playing hard. With Cabrera up to bat in the 5th and Hunter on first, O's 3B Flaherty dove to his left to smother Cabrera's grounder. He fired to Jonathan Schoop at 2B to force Hunter; Schoop fired to Pearce to complete the double play in excellent defense of RP Kevin Gausman.

Kevin Gausman's Relief, Game 2

After Chen's early exit, Baltimore needed somebody to chew up some innings after asking its pen to chew up four innings in relief of Chris Tillman the night before. That somebody was Gausman; with help from his D, Gausman went all the way into the 8th, allowing a lone run. Gausman's effort saved O's relievers from a second straight night of heavy lifting; he deserved a W but settled for props from his teammate and skipper.

Miguel Cabrera Erased, Game 2

It happened in the 8th inning with Detroit up 5-3; Tiger Victor Martinez doubled off the RCF wall, and runners ran. Third-base coach Dave Clark was either unaware of the 0-out situation, forgot how un-fast Cabrera is, or thought rookie 2B Schoop would simply forget to relay. In any event, Clark sent Cabrera from first...but O's C Caleb Joseph had the ball before Cabrera even reached the dirt area near the plate! The Tigers' rally skidded to a halt, keeping the O's within reach.

Delmon Young's 3-Run 2B, Game 2

The Detroit Tigers' record book—whicn chronicles over 110 years of Tiger baseball—has a surprising name atop the all-time postseason HR list: Mr. Young, who smoked eight of them! Swapping unis hasn't slowed his October production; facing Tiger RP Joakim Soria with the bases loaded and the O's down 6-4, the veteran OF smacked a first-pitch slider into the LF corner, clearing the bases with what proved to be the winning runs.

Nelson Cruz's Homer, Game 3

It turned out Baltimore needed but one swing of the bat from its' MVP candidate to bounce the Tigers from the playoffs. Cruz, the former Ranger star suspended for PED violations in '13, joined the O's on a quiet one-year deal in Spring Training—and rewarded them by leading the AL in homers. He struck again in the 6th inning of Game 3; Tiger SP David Price attempted a backdoor slider and Cruz sliced it over and out down the RF line! Though Detroit threatened late, the two-run shot stood up.

Nelson Cruz Picked Off, Game 3

It's easy to go from hero to goat in sports, and Cruz nearly joined a long list of athletes to soak up the glory one moment—and soak up the boos the next. True, his 6th-inning homer put Baltimore ahead 2-0. But the game was still close in the 8th when Cruz reached via fielder's choice, making smart baserunning paramount. However, Price immediately duped a bouncy Cruz—and cleanly picked him off for out #3! That could have proved potentially costly, but Nelson's Oriole teammates picked him up.

Don Kelly's Blunder, Game 3

"You never run on a grounder hit in front of you. You never run on a grounder hit in front of you." Just how many basic baseball creeds were violated in this series? In the home 3rd of a scoreless game, Kelly singled against O's SP Bud Norris. After stealing 2nd, Hunter grounded to SS Hardy. Kelly inexplicably found himself almost halfway to 3rd and was easily erased—with 2B Schoop adding insult to injury by collapsing on top of him.

Alex Avila Knocked Out, Game 3

Avila has been at or around 100% for about three months of the past three seasons—mostly due to concussions and knee woes. Just before Cruz' blast, he tipped one off Avila's mask, knocking the former All-Star—who had doubled earlier—out of the game. It was Avila's fourth, possibly even fifth, concussion in three years, and his sub Bryan Holaday K'd haplessly vs. Zack Britton with the tying run on 2nd in the 9th. It's hard not to feel for Avila, who brushed off retirement talk for the moment.

Buck Puts Winning Run On, Game 3

Putting the go-ahead run on base via intentional walk generally isn't done, but O's manager Showalter didn't get where he is today by adhering to scripts. Down 2-0, Detroit opened the 9th with consecutive doubles off Britton, scoring a run. After Holaday's K, a ballsy Showalter walked Castellanos and set up the force—even though Castellanos scoring would put the Tigers ahead. A brilliant move in hindsight—the next batter (PH Hernan Perez) grounded into a series-ending double play.