Wouldn't it be nice, a game tied 3-3 in the eighth inning, to have a relief pitcher who's perfectly capable of throwing 100 miles an hour and going three or four innings in a pinch?

That's what Ron Washington has in Alexi Ogando, who started 29 games for the Rangers this season but has now become the Ranger's not-at-all-secret weapon out of the bullpen.

With the Rangers tying Game 2 in the bottom of the seventh on Nelson Cruz's laser beam off the left-field fair pole, suddenly Texas seemed to have the big advantage because of Ogando's ability to throw multiple innings. Where the Rangers have Neftali Feliz, the Tigers have Jose Valverde. Where the Rangers have Mike Adams, the Tigers have Joaquin Benoit. But where the Rangers have Alexi Ogando, the Tigers have ... Brad Penny?

There's just no comparison, as Ogando pitched brilliantly as a reliever in 2010 and effectively as a starter through most of 2011.

It's still tied heading into the bottom of the eighth, but the Rangers now have an advantage in both arms and ups.