Tigers vs. Athletics final score: Oakland ties ALDS with 1-0 walk-off victory

The Oakland Athletics were not exactly in an enviable position coming into Game 2 of their ALDS against the Detroit Tigers.

After dropping Game 1 at home, the A’s were tasked with the challenge of taking on Tigers ace Justin Verlander. It was a task the Athletics and young starter Sonny Gray were ready for as the 23-year-old arm matched the former Cy Young award winner pitch for pitch, tossing eight innings of shutout baseball. Gray struck out nine in the process, though, left with a no decision given his offense struggled against the mighty Verlander.

The Tigers ace looked every bit in form tonight, striking out 11 in his seven innings of work, though had moments where he had to wiggle out of trouble. The moment of the night likely came during a nine pitch at-bat where Verlander, after striking out Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt in an RBI situation late, could be screaming in excitement as he walked off the mound.

Unfortunately for Verlander and the Tigers, the bullpen couldn’t keep the Athletics down as after the Tigers’ ace departed, the A’s began to wake up offensively.

Oakland picked up four hits (along with an intentional base on balls) in 1+ inning of work against the Detroit bullpen, which allowed the Athletics to walk-off with a bases loaded single by the aforementioned Vogt in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The victory saves the Athletics from facing a 0-2 series deficit as they make their way to Motown for Game 3 on Monday afternoon.