Game 5 of the American League Division Series between the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners was simply fantastic. These were the things I noticed during this instant classic.

Josh Naylor’s hustle and smarts.

Kerry Carpenter as a budding star after he went yard off the lefty, Gabe Speier. Ironically, the home run freed manager Dan Wilson of any blame for the Game 1 loss when Wilson didn’t bring in Speier for George Kirby and Kirby give up a bomb to Carpenter.

Cal Raleigh dead pulling four Tarik Skuble pitches at 99 mph or above almost 90 degrees behind him.

Leo Rivas -with 700 minor league games under his belt- delivering the pinch hit RBI in the 7th to tie it up.

Victor Robles taking the brunt of 100 off his knuckles on a pitch that should have been called a foul ball. How does New York miss that call again?

Munoz dealing. Bazardo dealing.

Flaherty doing his best Mark Fidrych, talking to no one, walking people, battling back from bases loaded to get the double play.

Raleigh throwing out designated hitter Cole Keith.

Cole Keith being the DH.

Dillon Dingler throwing out Robles.

The feeling that these two were so close that Seattle’s home field would have to be the difference.

JP Crawford’s hit off Tommy Kahnle to start the 15th.

Jorge Polanco hitting a decent changes from Kahnle with the bases loaded.

No shame. No criticism. Just great pitching and great baseball. 3-2 was never more dramatic…more gut-wrenching. If you thought this was boring, you just don’t know baseball.