The Detroit Tigers’ Five Biggest Plays of the ALDS

Oct 8, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson breaks his bat on a RBI single against the Oakland Athletics in the seventh inning in game four of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#4 – Game 4: Austin Jackson’s broken-bat RBI single.

SPA: 10.5%

He couldn’t hit. Heck, he couldn’t even make contact.

Austin Jackson stepped to the plate with his series strikeout total on the rise. He was already 0-3 with three strikeouts on the night, but the Tigers were counting on him to come up with a two-out hit to score the runner from second. Down 0-2 in the count, Jackson puts a swing on the ball and connects. The bat snaps, turning what may have been a routine out (we’ll never know) into a soft line single that lands a step in front of A’s right fielder Josh Reddick. Andy Dirks sprints home from second, giving the Tigers a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning of a win-or-go-home game.