Facing elimination, the Tigers were down by three runs when it came time for them to bat in the fifth. Fans at Comerica were already looking sullen, and they had every reason to; the Tigs' offense regained some life in the bottom of the ninth in Game 3, but that was after fans had endured watching eight innings of nearly hitless baseball for Detroit as the Mariners poured on eight runs.
So a three-run lead for Seattle, while insurmountable, didn't have anyone feeling good. Manager AJ Hinch had taken starter Casey Mize out after just three innings, even though he'd only allowed one run and put up a clean third.