The A's have faced tougher odds this season. Maybe. Okay, probably not. I'm not sure the exact odds of the comeback to win the West versus the odds of a three- four-, wait, five-run lead? Goodness. No, this is the biggest predicament in a season of predicaments for the A's.

Justin Verlander is at 88 pitches through six. So he's not a lock for a complete game. Then you figure in some wildness from Al Alburquerque, maybe some jitters from

Johnny Peralta led off the top of the seventh with a single, and he moved to third on an Omar Infante single just over the reach of Cliff Pennington.

Then the wheels fell off.

Jarrod Parker was lifted for Ryan Cook, who allowed a single to knock in a run, and he hit Miguel Cabrera with the bases loaded to drive in another. Jerry Blevins came in to face Prince Fielder, who hit a mighty pop-up that Coco Crisp broke back on before it fell in for a single. That made it 5-0.

Stephen Drew made an error, and ... look, I watched it so you didn't have to. It was ugly. In the end, the Tigers scored four times, took a 6-0 lead, and they get to send Justin Verlander back out.

If there's any magic left, Oakland, now's the time.