In a do-or-die ALDS Game 5 against the Seattle Mariners, the Detroit Tigers chose the latter. Fifteen historical, excruciating innings of baseball were played before Seattle infielder Jorge Polanco finally delivered the final death blow with a bases-loaded, walk-off single to send the Mariners to their first ALCS since 2001.
While it was certainly a disappointing end to Detroit's season, it wasn't all doom and gloom. The Tigers came into the game with a certain amount of cautious optimism. But it's the hope that kills you.