The Detroit Tigers’ Five Biggest Plays of the ALDS

Oct 8, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics during 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

#3 – Game 4: Victor Martinez’s controversial home run.

SPA: 11.0%

Down by a 4-3 score going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Victor Martinez led off with a deep fly ball to right field. Reddick tracked the ball to the wall, timed his jumped, leaped, and… didn’t get a chance to make a play on the ball as two heroic fans reached out to catch the ball. An Umpire’s video review confirmed that the ball was headed over the yellow home run line, and the A’s plea for a fan interference call was denied.

It really was an bad inning of events for Reddick. He wasn’t able to make a play on this tying run, the go-ahead run would land a step in front of him five batters later, and he’d strike out with the bases loaded and nobody out in the next half inning. Those three events, which all happened in either the bottom of the seventh or the top of the eighth, combined to swing the series in Detroit’s favor by a total of 28.6%!